Playoff
action got underway for the Mark Bannon Ull LL’s with a Sunday afternoon road
trip to Zurich
to face off against the Thunder on Feb. 6th.
In an equally contested first period, Liam Coyne thwarted a breakaway chance for the Thunder ending the period in a nothing-nothing draw. A wristy to the glove side from Luke Linton was robbed in the second period, as Zurich responded with the first goal of the game in the last minute and a half heading into the third.
In the third, Luke Linton got his redemption as he sniped his well practiced wrist shot four minutes in, to get the Meteors up on to the scoreboard and tie up the game. A minute later, Cole Ulch fired his rocket of a shot, but was denied by the goal post, with an arena sounding ring. Not to be outdone, Zurich would respond with their second goal, leaving the Meteors trailing behind as the score clock wound down. After an injury late in the game, Daxton Baker would score off the face-off with a minute and a half left to go, sending everyone in attendance to the edges of theirs seats, and the game into overtime with two goals apiece.
As OT action got underway, the Thunder’s goalie was ready as Luke Linton tried to end the game on a breakaway. Henry Schoonderwoerd would then try his luck for the Meteors, as his quick feet along the boards carried the puck in, but his shot was met with
the solid trapper hand of the Zurich netminder. Then at the 7:40 mark, a face off puck drop would find Miles Linton fire the puck off to Luke Linton along the boards, who in turn then deked out the goalie, for a backhanded game winning sniper, as the Meteors notched their first W in play-off action.
The Meteors met up with Central Perth on February 10th for their second playoff game. The Meteors came away with a 2-0 final.
The team looks forward to Saturday, where they play three games in the one-day Minto Tournament, followed by play-off action resuming on February 13th, when the Ironmen come to town.