Baby Beefs facing stiff challenge in round 2

by **mc_homer** Wed Apr 25, 2012 11:22 pm

The Baby Beefs dream season could be in jeopardy after losing 2 of the first 3 games against the Matlock Leprechauns.

Being down 2-1 is not the end of the world, especially against the team that finished 2nd overall, but for a team that dominated the regular season allowing the fewest goals in the league the manner of the losses has been troubling.

The Baby Beefs averaged 1.87 goals against per game throughout the season and only allowed 7 goals in 5 first round games (5 came in one game!) yet they allowed 4 goals in the 2 losses. In both of these games the goals have come in bunces. Game one the Leprechauns jumped out to an early lead scoring at the 1.11, 1.46 and 6.23 marks of the first period. In game 3 the Beefs actually took a goal at 0.24 all the way to the third period before allowing the Leprechauns back in it where again they scored at 2.33, 5.37 and 7.03. 6 goals scored in a combined 10 minutes of play have been the difference in the series so far.

There is still a lot of hockey to be played but a second round exit will be deemed as a huge failure for the leagues best team especially after coming so close last season. If the Beefs can survive long enough they will soon get some reinforcements in the form of Tom Preissing who has been out with a Lacerated Right Calf.

There have been some things for Beefs fans to get excited about however. Ryan Nugent Hopkins sits 2nd in the league for goals and Jamie Benn seems to be finally showing some of his potential as he has 7 points in 8 games to go along with a team leading 21 hits.

Despite the recent struggles the goalies have also been stellar with Price sitting on a .931 sv% 1.91 GAA and Hole not far off that with .930 sv% and 1.96 GAA.

The Baby Beefs will look to rebound from yesterdays disappointing collapse and even up the series tonight.