The Rainbows Are Thrilled To Face What The Puck

GAME OF THE WEEK
What The Puck (5-0-0-1) at Dark Rainbows (5-0-0-1)
Location: Tompkins East, 4:30 PM
All-Time Series: What The Puck leads 6-5
Game Notes: The top two teams in BTSH face off in a battle for first place in the Hackett Division.  What The Puck’s offseason additions have assimilated into Larry “Mad Dog” Zimmer’s game plan extremely quickly, resulting in a five-game winning streak.  The team boasts the top offense in the league, averaging five goals a game, which is a full goal more than any other team.  Despite the boost from the new arrivals, however, it is WTP’s cagey veteran, defender Darrell “Accurate Bob” Hartman, who has led the scoring with seven goals on the season.  Unlike their opponents, the Dark Rainbows’ roster changed little during the offseason.  As a result of this stability, the Rainbows opened the season with a four-game winning streak and have yielded the third fewest goals in BTSH.  Goaltender John Meyer currently ranks fourth in the league with a 1.33 GAA, and he has not allowed more than two goals in a game this season.  Meyer and the Rainbows will face their stiffest challenge to date when they go head to head with the relentless What The Puck offense this Sunday.
Keys To The Game:
1. What The Puck has used three different goaltenders this season, each winning at least one game for the team.  This speaks to both the team’s versatility in having several capable options, as well as its raw ability to light up the scoreboard regardless of who’s between the pipes.
2. The Rainbows’ 3-2 win over Poutine Machine last week stands as a true testament to the team’s resiliency.  Trailing by one late in the second half, the Rainbows scored twice in the last 4:30 to comeback against the MacNeil Division leaders.
3. As a special treat for fans of these two teams (yes, even What The Puck has fans), halftime will feature an exhibition game among the several dozen children who are usually in attendance at these teams’ games.  Baby John Nielsen is expected to lead the Mini-Rainbows to victory.
Eli’s Pick: What The Puck.  They look unstoppable right now.
Derek’s Pick: What The Puck.  Mad Dog won’t rest until he wins the division.
Watchability: 5 Starks.  These are the top two teams in the league.  What else do you want?

Denim Demons (3-2-0-1) at Sky Fighters (3-2-0-1)
Written by Early Game Correspondent Will Kuhns
Location: Tompkins East, 1:00 PM
All-Time Series: Denim Demons lead 6-2
Game Notes: Will is in Montreal on business.  Preview coming soon…

Mathematics (2-3-1) at Gut Rot (0-6)
Written by Early Game Correspondent Will Kuhns
Location: Tompkins West, 1:00 PM
All-Time Series: Mathematics lead 1-0
Game Notes: Will is learning French with Rosetta Stone.  Preview coming soon…

Poutine Machine (3-2-1) at La Famiglia (3-0-1-2)
Location: Tompkins East, 2:00 PM
All-Time Series: La Famiglia leads 1-0
Game Notes: Division leaders collide in this Schumacher Conference showdown.  Despite a loss to the Dark Rainbows last week, Poutine Machine is two points ahead of the Mathematics for control of the MacNeil Division.  La Famiglia moved into a tie with the Unicorns for the top spot in the Donohue Division following a 9-2 thrashing of Gut Rot.
Eli’s Pick: La Famiglia
Derek’s Pick: La Famiglia.  Although I expect Poutine’s Tim Brown to hold them to fewer than nine, the offense has too much firepower.
Watchability: 3.5 Starks

Cobra Kai (3-1-1-1) at Mega Touch (2-4)
Location: Tompkins West, 2:00 PM
All-Time Series: Cobra Kai leads 5-0
Game Notes: Both of these teams head into this inter-division contest with hopes of rebounding from tough Week 6 defeats.  Although Cobra Kai battled Fresh Kills to overtime in the Game of the Week, the Dojo couldn’t seal the victory, as Kills captain Dave Sokolyansky scored the game-winner early in the extra period.  While Adriano “Muscles Marinara” Bratta scored once against his former team, the effort went for naught, and Mega Touch lost to What The Puck 7-3.
Eli’s Pick: No pick. Eli will be reffing this game.
Derek’s Pick: Cobra Kai.  Mega Touch will have to wait another year before they win their first game against the Dojo.
Watchability: 3 Starks

Butchers (4-2) at Happy Little Elves (2-2-0-2)
Location: Tompkins East, 3:00 PM
All-Time Series: First Meeting
Game Notes: The Butchers have allowed just two goals in their past three games (all wins) and currently boast the league’s second-ranked defense.  Despite just two wins through six games, the Happy Little Elves are tied for the league’s second best offense.  However, they have also allowed the fourth most goals in BTSH and have won just one game since the inception of their guest captain program.
Eli’s Pick: Butchers.  Go meat!
Derek’s Pick: Happy Little Elves.  Joe Polowczuk is not on the Butchers.
Watchability: 3.5 Starks

Fresh Kills (5-1) at LBS, Inc. (4-1-0-1)
Location: Tompkins West, 3:00 PM
All-Time Series: Fresh Kills leads 12-5
Game Notes: Both Fresh Kills and LBS, Inc. enter this Hackett Division matchup on four-game winning streaks, with each victorious in overtime last Sunday.  Fresh Kills, behind captain Dave Sokolyansky’s two goals, including the overtime game-winner, beat Cobra Kai 4-3.  The Corporation’s Tommy Capatosta scored all five goals in his team’s 5-4 victory over the Sky Fighters.
Eli’s Pick: Fresh Kills.  Tommy can’t score five goals again, can he?
Derek’s Pick: LBS, Inc.  Probably not, but I’ll still take them.
Watchability: 4.5 Starks

Tompkins Square Riots (2-4) at Corlears Hookers (4-2)
Location: Tompkins West, 4:30 PM
All-Time Series: First Meeting
Game Notes: The Corlears Hookers are in the midst of a rare two-game losing streak, having scored just one goal in the last couple of weeks.  Although the Tompkins Square Riots have struggled this season, they shocked the Unicorns last week with a decisive defensive effort, resulting in a 2-1 shootout win.
Eli’s Pick: Corlears Hookers.  I don’t think they’ve ever lost three in a row.
Derek’s Pick: Corlears Hookers
Watchability: 2.5 Starks

HOCKEY NIGHT IN TOMPKINS (National Telecast)
Written by Hockey Night in Tompkins Correspondent Jesse Kalb
Unicorns (4-1-0-1) at Rehabs (1-5)
Location: Tompkins East, 5:30 PM
All-Time Series: Rehabs lead 11-6-1
Game Notes: Jesse is filling out an application to manage a small Pennsylvania paper and printer company.  Preview coming soon…

HOCKEY NIGHT IN TOMPKINS (Regional Telecast)
Written by Hockey Night in Tompkins Correspondent Jesse Kalb
Gouging Anklebiters (1-5) at Filthy Gorgeous (2-4)
Location: Tompkins West, 5:30 PM
All-Time Series: Filthy Gorgeous leads 7-2
Game Notes: Jesse is lecturing middle schoolers about the evils of drugs.  Preview coming soon…