Sometimes you have to be lucky to be good. And the Crushers definitely had some luck on their side last night.

The Marauders hit more than their fair share of posts (3 at least). If those 3 posts are goals we are looking at a 5-5 game going into OT, and who knows what happens. But they didn't, so we have a game three tonight.

Jordan MacInnis was fully deserving of his hat trick last night. The third goal, where he slid into the net to knock in the loose puck that just barely squeezed through Travis Hall shows just how much passion this guy plays with every game. Matt and I ran into him on the way out of the building, and could clearly see the after-effects of that goal, and his lower lip looked like was in three distinct pieces.

For those who listened to the broadcast, you are not going to be too surprised at who I single out for his performance for the Marauders. Tanner Manson played perhaps the best game of his Junior A career last night. Not only did he score a sniper's goal, he had some solid clean hits, he skated away when the Crushers tried to goad him into a typical Manson-like situation, and generated other great scoring chances.

There is some definite bad blood developing as the series continues, which is really not much of a surprise. The old saying familiarity breeds contempt really does ring true in the hockey world. For the Marauders, it seems that Public Enemy #1 is clearly #7 - Jason Smallman. On the flip side, JP Harvey and Jordan Thomas are definitely high up on the Most Wanted list. If the game tonight becomes a blowout for one team or the other, we may see some scores try to get settled. I think if the game stays close, though, both teams will keep their eyes on the prize, and not do anything to get themselves into penalty trouble.

Which brings up another point from the game last night. The Crushers cannot afford to give the Marauders the first three power plays of the game again tonight. Fortunately for them, they got things back under control for the most part after that, but give the Marauders credit as well. They did nothing to allow themselves to be placed short-handed through the first 29 minutes of the game. Although, if not for a VERY bad penalty by Ian Lewis taking an Unsportsmanlike Conduct when Rob Iszak was already going to the box, it would have been the first four power plays of the game.

As I am sure pretty much everyone knows by now, game 3 is tonight at 7:30 at John Brother MacDonald Stadium. Advance tickets can be purchased today at Big Al's, Woody's, and at the Stadium between 4pm and 6pm. 

As far as our broadcast schedule goes - if the Crushers win tonight, our next broadcast will be Game 1 of the series with Yarmouth on Sunday at 7:30 (pre-game show at 7pm).