Everything’s Coming Up Rehabs
GAME OF THE WEEK
Dark Rainbows (10-5-1) vs. Rehabs (10-4-1-1)
Location: Corlears North, 2:00 PM
All-Time Series: Dark Rainbows lead 4-3
Game Notes: The Rehabs have had a season of large ebbs and flows this year. After a mid-season three-game losing streak, they have been on fire in recent weeks and won their last four in a row. Despite having to adjust to the losses of key players Jon “Dinner Plate” Feldman and Stacy Kehoe, they have scored twenty-eight goals in their last three games, while allowing only three. The Dark Rainbows, on the other hand, have struggled lately, losing their last two games and scoring only three goals since returning from the break. However, they can glean some hope from their last few games, as goalie Trevor “White Jesus” Tyrrell has returned to his usual form. In the month of September, he has allowed only five goals, including a shutout of a very potent Fresh Kills offense. With only one point separating these two teams in the standings, playoff positioning will be at stake.
Keys To The Game:
1. Dark Rainbows superstar John Nielsen had been conspicuously absent for several weeks until returning to the lineup last Sunday. Throughout the first part of the season, he had been towards the top of the league scoring leaders, and the Rainbows will need him to return to form.
2. Since transferring to the Rehabs, Andy Levine has averaged more than a goal per game. This mid-season acquisition may have been the spark the Rehabs needed to ignite their once sputtering offense.
3. With all of the Rehabs star power and bar notoriety, Mike “Cupcake” Bartlett and Lateef Nurmohamed both seem to get lost in the shuffle. However, both are capable of multi-goal games and are just as dangerous as some of their more renowned teammates.
Eli’s Pick: Rehabs. They finally appear to be realizing their full potential.
Derek’s Pick: Rehabs. The Rainbows may make a deep run in the playoffs, but for now, the Rehabs offense will just be too much to handle.
Continue reading ‘Week 17 Preview’
At Least One Member Of What The Puck Is Pumped
GAME OF THE WEEK
Denim Demons (10-1-2-1) vs. What The Puck (12-2-0-1)
Location: Moffo, 4:00 PM
All-Time Series: What The Puck leads 8-2
Game Notes: These teams waged a classic battle in the quarterfinals of the 2007 playoffs, where What The Puck emerged with a one goal victory. The Demons currnelty trail What The Puck by two points in the standings, but with a game scheduled prior to this one, they could enter this matchup in a first place tie. This has all the makings of an intense and heated matchup, as the victor will have the inside track to the top seed in the rapidly approaching playoffs. With these two teams so evenly matched, victory will hinge on the the motivation and strategy of two the league’s most cunning captains: the Demons’ Adam “Legend Killer” Rubens and What the Puck’s Larry “Mad Dog” Zimmer.
Keys To The Game:
1. The Demons will have a 2:00 game at Moffo, which gives Zimmer the perfect opportunity to scout his opponent.
2. With the returns of grizzled veteran Tom MacDonald and spunky forward Jen Hale from Canada to What The Puck’s already potent offense, the Demons will have to go over even more footage in the film room.
3. Known as the utility player of the Denim Demons, Zack Tinkelman can play any position on the court, including goalie, where he has already registered two shutouts on the season.
Eli’s Pick: What The Puck. The Demons get caught up in a “Hale Storm”.
Derek’s Pick: What The Puck. The Orange and Blue will be the first seed in the playoffs.
Continue reading ‘Week 16 Preview’
Now (S)crappy Free! (Except That)
GAME OF THE WEEK
Unicorns (8-6) vs. Mighty Squirrels (7-3-3)
Location: Corlears South, 3:00 PM
All-Time Series: Unicorns lead 4-1
Game Notes: Although both of these teams now hover in the upper half of the standings, this game has implications far beyond simple wins and losses in BTSH. In addition to the pressure of ending a three game losing streak, Mighty Squirrels captain Rachel “A-Korn” Greene must face one of her fiercest and most devious rivals in this game: Unicorns goalie, Craig “Ug” LaCombe. A known cheater, LaCombe has already been caught several times this season for various league infractions. In May, referee Adam “Legend Killer” Rubens measured his pads and determined that they were several inches above the league standard. In June, referee Bryan “Stork” Welch found a bucket of white paint on LaCombe’s person, as he was trying to expand the crease. Interestingly, due to excessive lobbying by Unicorns captain Christian, LaCombe is yet to face any consequences for these actions. Greene, however, is also known to be quite crafty as she once “inadvertently” gave LaCombe the wrong start time for one of his games. Odds are, she’ll do that again this week. Of course, the anticipation for this heated rivalry may be moot in the end, as Greene may head to the Meadowlands for the Jets’ home opener anyway.
Keys To The Game:
1. Chris, Nelson, and Mark have combined for 31 of the Unicorns’ 47 goals this season. Stopping this triumvirate of scorers will be imperative for the Squirrels.
2. Lost among the Greene-LaCombe hype is the revenge factor that will also motivate former Unicorn Jesse Kalb.
3. Good news for the Squirrels! According to New York fashion week, Earth tones are back in this season. So, they have that going for them…
Eli’s Pick: Mighty Squirrels. Rachel does it for Brett Favre.
Derek’s Pick: Unicorns. Ug will be amped for this game and will help procure another rivalry trophy to go alongside the Unicorns’ (imaginary) Fairy Tale Cup.
Continue reading ‘Week 15 Preview’
Cobra Kai Will Have A Big Problem On Sunday
GAME OF THE WEEK
Mathematics (3-10) vs. Volanto’s Heroes Cobra Kai (3-8-1)
Location: Corlears North, 3:00 PM
All-Time Series: Mathematics lead 4-0
Game Notes: In 2005, these two teams were united as a single “super team” called Henry Motion. However, a difference in playing philosophies caused a rift in the team, as the uber-competitive Sharif “The Chocolate Buzzsaw” Corinaldi and Sarah Coombs founded the Mathematics, and the mild-mannered Peter Oblamski retained control of Henry Motion (later renamed Cobra Kai). Tensions continued when original Cobra Kai members Eli Kazin and Derek Tagliarino defected to the rebel Math team in the middle of the 2007 season. The series reached a fever pitch in last year’s matchup, as the Mathematics beat Cobra Kai 3-2 in overtime, with the hated (and third string) Tagliarino in net. Now, one year later, Cobra Kai is eagerly awaiting this Sunday’s rematch. They have scheduled a pep rally and bonfire for Saturday night, where they plan to burn many mathematics text books.
Keys To The Game:
1. An anonymous source reports that Cobra Kai captain Peter Oblamski has resigned from the team, effective immediately. The team will miss his crafty game planning and inspirational leadership.
2. Jeff “The Hawk” Hawkins scored his first goal for the Mathematics in their last game. With Sharif “The Chocolate Buzzsaw” Corinaldi pursuing an education in California, The Hawk will see a bigger role in the Mathematics’ game plan.
3. In a shrewd mid-season acquisition, the Mathematics have obtained Adriano “Muscles Marinara” Bratta from Cobra Kai, due to an unknown loophole in the BTSH application process (they bribed Bob W). Interestingly, Bratta made a point to note that it will be a tad chilly on Sunday, so he will wear a second t-shirt under his Mathematics jersey.
Continue reading ‘Week 14 Preview’
What The Puck Needs To Rest Up
GAME OF THE WEEK
What The Puck (9-2-0-1) vs. LBS, Inc. (9-2-1)
Location: Moffo, 3:00 PM
All-Time Series: LBS, Inc. leads 7-4
Game Notes: What The Puck and LBS, Inc. currently sit in a tie for second place, only one point behind the Corlears Hookers. Both teams feature similar gameplans, as they each have small rosters comprised almost entirely of stars. Three players on What The Puck (Mike “The X-Factor” Woodsworth, Corey “Chongo” Winters, and Larry “Mad Dog” Zimmer) now have double-digit goals, while Karsten Pichon of LBS, Inc. leads the league with fifteen. In addition, both teams rely on consistent goaltending as a solid base to their explosive offenses. What The Puck’s Roderick “Guy LeDouche” Cruz registered his first shutout of the season last week, while Seth Wachtell of LBS, Inc. has won all three of his starts since being reassigned to the mail room. The winner of this game will be one step closer to locking up a high seed in the playoffs.
Keys To The Game:
1. Despite missing a fair number of games, Darrell “Accurate Bob” Hartman remains one of What The Puck’s top offensive threats, as he now has eight goals on the season…one for each of the stripes on his socks.
2. After serving a five game suspension, the self-proclaimed “cleanest player in BTSH”, Ken “The Alpha Male” Poulin now has eight goals as well. He and his linemate Karsten will look to demonstrate why they were named the media’s Best Duo of 2007
3. What The Puck captain Larry “Mad Dog” Zimmer has put a bounty on the head of former teammate and current LBS, Inc. player, Erica Lee. He explains, “You’re either with us or against us…and if you’re against us, it’s your ass.”
Eli’s Pick: LBS, Inc. They’ve been playing with a lot more focus since they went corporate, which can only be attributed to CEO Sascha Puritz’s “no suspensions” policy of professional conduct.
Derek’s Pick: What The Puck. If they can get full attendance, they can run with anyone. Plus, team cancer Ant “Father Time” Ventolieri will once again be out with a strained white beard, so that can only help them.
Continue reading ‘Week 13 Preview’
