Sorry for the delay on this. The following game vs the Michigan Mallards was played on Thursday, September 26th.

It’s a good league, we’ve known that since we joined it back in 2017. The parity is real and on any given night of any given week you can beat anyone and anyone can beat you, and that’s what we saw on Thursday night.

The Necks struck first on a rebound goal from Mistrial, who remains hot after a down 2018-2019 campaign with two goals in as many games, giving the Longnecks a 1-0 lead. After plenty of pressure and a lot of good chances, the Longnecks were unable to capitalize on the good legs and consistent buzzin’ in the Mallards zone and closed out the period tied 1-1.

For a list of player descriptions click here, or here

It was a pretty back and forth game until the second period where the Grind Line consisting of Mistrial, Mr. Hustle, and Frank had one of those shifts that you never want to remember but can’t stop thinking about. It was putrid garbage. Just an absolute cluster-fuck of a shift where everyone out there was playing the school-of-fish defense. See the puck, chase the puck….all together, all at the same time….but never actually gaining possession of said puck.

We got scored on twice in a matter of 45 seconds making the score 3-1, and from there the Longnecks were never able to gain control. Early in the third the Mallards stopped a pretty great chance from the Necks, and turned it into a scoring play of their own, taking a 4-1 lead. With about 5 minutes left, Hoon was able to pick a corner and give the Necks a fighting chance at a comeback, but all would fall short, and the Necks would lose 4-2 to the Michigan Mallards…the same team that eliminated the Necks from playoff contention last year with 58 seconds remaining in the game.

Game Notes: 

The Nexus Spine & Sport Backbone Performance of the Game goes to the Mallard’s Goalie. Guy was a monster. Legit a really big guy. Huge white intimidating pads, it was tough to find cracks in his net-minding. He weathered the storm early and kept his guys in it, ultimately giving them the W.

The Zim’s Vodka Smoothest Move of the Game goes to Hoon for his late goal to give the Necks a chance. It was a beauty of a shot sneaking in one of the only areas to get it by the big fella.

The Fox Hills Chrysler Jeep Trail Rated Tough Performance goes to Long Ball, whose name we are officially changing to Buck. I told you guys I didn’t know Long Ball or All In at all before the season started, and their names might change, and here you have it. Long Ball is now Buck. So Buck gets this fucking award because he had a great defensive play on a back check where he caught the opposing player, squared him up, slowed him down nicely, and prevented a goal. But then Buck went back for more and mauled the guy and resulted in a 2 minute penalty. It was gritty. The whole team liked it. So he’s getting this award.

The Bowline Financial Calculated Risk of the Game goes to Animal House once again, but not for anything he did on the ice. He took the Eagles on Thursday Night Football in Lambeau Field. Frank and Mistrial took the sucker pick in the Pack, and paid for it. Nice read Animal House, we should be ashamed for picking Pack when the Leo’s are in a heated division race.

Up necks for the Longnecks is newcomer to the league, the Detroit Aces. I don’t know how I feel about that name or their general branding approach, so I’m hoping we give them an ass whoopin’ and get back in the win column.

Until later this week.

#SYNO #NeckNation #TheQuest #IsItThursdayYet? 🦒