1983 PRINCE OF WALES CONFERENCE QUARTER FINAL #1

Chicago Underground

vs.

Mackinac Island Moose

Period 2 is a lot the same as the 1st. This time the Moose kill off a penalty. Moose SOG advantage drops to 12-11. Goalies are almost perfect, but Kurri finds the net late in the 2nd, and the Moose go to intermission up 1-0.

Reality sets in for the goalies and things get going in the 3rd. 3 minutes in, Anderson on a breakaway convert and evens the game at 1. Shortly after, Kurri continues his hot streak, scoring another, and it’s 2-1 on a delayed penalty 6 on 5. Moose kill off a penalty at the midpoint, Shortly after that, Chicago finds an opening and Vaive ties it at 2. Napier and Murray hook up in a minor skirmish, but the 4 on 4 results in nothing, as does the last 4 minutes of the period, and it’s off to overtime.

OT – Continuation of tight defensive play until 4 minutes in when Smyl gets his first goal of the series and a very important one for the Moose MVP.

Moose win 3-2 in OT

1st star – Kurri 2G
2nd – Smyl GWG 3pts
3rd – Melanson 29 saves

Off to game 2 after a squeaky tight 3-2 overtime game 1.

Similar to game 1, the Moose throws a lot more rubber at goal in the first period. But this time the goalies not quite as good, and Chicago draws first blood. Vaive breaks the tie 10 minutes in, and Chicago now up 1-0. Chicago kills off a penalty late in the period, and just as they relax a little bit, it’s the Moose jumping on it, and Napier pops one in with 18 seconds left on the clock. Off to intermission tied at 1.

An Anderson slashing penalty puts the Moose on the PP in the first minute, and Lysiak takes advantage to put the home team up 2-1. Not much action until the Moose rack up 2 consecutive 2-minute penalties late in the period, overlapping a Chicago penalty. 5 on 4 becomes 4 on 5, but in the end, nothing. And 2nd period ends 2-1 Moose.

3rd period opens up with a Moose penalty early on. PK is successful, but just as Smyl comes out of the box, Vaive finds an opening, and relief turns to disappointment for the Moose crowd, and we are tied at 2. Seiling and Park tangle up minutes later, and we have 4 on 4. In the midst of the 4 man play, the Moose take advantage of the open ice, and Dunlop throws a seeing-eye puck at the net, and gets a lucky goal with a little over 10 minutes to go. Chicago turns up the intensity and dominates scoring attempts in the last 10 minutes. A scuffle between Savard and Terrion creates some 4 on 4, but no change. The clock melts down to the final 2 minutes and the Moose are able to control the puck and keep it in the Chicago end the final 90 seconds, passing it around, so Chicago is denied the chance to pull the goalie and mount a 6 on 5. 3-2 Moose in regulation.

1st star – Vaive 2G
2nd – Lysiak 1G
3rd – Dunlop GWG

The Moose win in another tight game and hope they can continue some success as we head down lake Michigan to Chicago.

2nd period sees a flurry of Moose penalties, 4, keeping them on the defense 10 minutes of the first 14 minutes in the period. Chicago takes advantage of PP goals by Bossy and Vaive. Ruskowski gets a steal and breakaway during one of the PKs and nets a rare shortie to limit the damage. Blaisdell adds one goal early and it’s 4-2 Chicago with 8 minutes left in the 2nd. The Moose get their crap together and stop the stupid penalties, allowing them time to set up some offense. This pays off in the final 2 minutes of the period when Smyl and Kurri find the net, and erase the Chicago lead. On to period 3 tied at 4.

Period 3 sees the Moose and Chicago each kill off one penalty. This leaves too much time for the Moose to set up their offense. Smyl scores early in the period for his hat-trick. Propp adds an insurance goal late, and the Moose steal a road game 6-4.

1st star – Smyl 3G 4pts
2nd – Kurri 1G 4pts
3rd – Bossy 2G

Moose up a commanding 3 games to 0. Can the Underground find enough ammunition to make a final stand?

Chicago 5, Moose 4 – Moose kill off an early penalty. Chicago uses the throw as much rubber at the goalie as possible and the strategy works with a 25-8 SOG advantage in the period. On the scoreboard, McNab, Anderson, and Stastny light the lamp to put the Underground up 3-0. The Moose wake up and get a late tally from Ruskowski to cut the lead to 2, heading to the 2nd.

Chicago continues the barrage on Meloche with another 15 SOG. It continues to work and goals from McNab and Bossy make it 5-1 Chicago at the halfway point. A shell-shocked Moose squad goes to intermission down by 4.

Chicago goes conservative in the 3rd and it nearly costs them. The Moose have a 17-2 SOG advantage, and it results in 2 goals before crunch time, cutting the deficit to 2. Moose pulls the goalie and is able to manage only one goal at the 6-second mark. Too little too late, and Chicago stays on life support.

1st star – McNab 2G 3pts
2nd – MacLean 2G
3rd – Bossy 1G 2pts

Chicago stays alive with a new offensive strategy. Can they keep the mojo? stay tuned.

Period 2 sees more of the same- Moose nearly give it away with 3 penalties, one a 4-minute mess, but able to kill them all. The goalies continue stellar play, and this period also ends scoreless.

Period 3 sees Chicago kill one penalty early, and then both teams kill overlapping penalties and its still scoreless with 13 minutes to go. Good tight play continues until Kurri finds a sliver of an opening and sends the arena into delirium with a goal at the 3-minute mark. The place is rocking and Chicago needs a tally. Frantic play down to the end, but Melanson and his brothers are up to the task and hang on for the shutout win.

1st star – Melanson shutout 14 saves
2nd star – Kurri G
3rd – Smyl 1A