Grizzly Game Recap - Winter Playoffs Game 1

The Grizz came into the playoffs of this winter season on top of the heap after a big win in their regular season finale. It's fair to say they were riding high. They had dominated most of the regular season too, with just a notable tie halfway through. They were playing the number two team as well in this strange revolver type playoff format. So whether it was just the quality of their opponent or that they aren't the golden favourites, something went awry in their playoff match.

The Grizz did in this game what they had done all season, they dominated with a possession game and poured in various quality chances to score. The difference on this night was that their opposing tender was up to the task. He had what is being touted as the game of his frigging life. The frustration ran high in the match as the Grizz keeper was equal to the task in the other end. The play more and more was on the boards and in the corners and where usually the officials make the calls to keep things in check this particular official didn't. It was reported that in the previous match that night the same thing occurred. Scrums ensued and then players started to take discipline into their own hands which is never good. This ref has a reputation for running this kind of game. In previous matches he's also made questionable calls against the Grizz and on this occasion it would be no different. Due to escalating violence on the boards, the Beer Guy was awarded a penalty shot in the second period. He converted it to give the Grizz a 1-0 lead. He was given another in the third but the hot goalie stymied him on that attempt. The opponents tied the game with about six minutes remaining in the third period of this heated, hard fought affair. This is when the ref decided he would have an impact. In the dying minutes the Grizz top unit of the Beer Guy and Admiral Bonesaw tallied to make it 2-1 but the ref in question called the goalie off and assessed a diving penalty to the Grizz captain away from the play. Apparently he was tripped and embellished it slightly, not contributing to the scoring play in any way. Even from over here it feels like a spite call. So the regulation play ended in a draw. The opposition goalie stood tall in the shootout stopping all five Grizz shooters. The Grizz goalie could only keep four attempts out. The match ended as a Grizz loss, the first of the season, 2-1. They fought hard, I'm told they were exhausted after this match, even with a full bench.

The Grizz will likely be filing a formal complaint of the officiating with the league in conjunction with other teams to have this ref do his job and control the play, not decide the games. It is a sour pill to swallow but the Grizz are not done. They will keep going and in this strange playoff format they even still have a chance to win it all. Unlike the fall league they don't have to play the top team each week now, just the rest of the pack, so their odds may actually be higher to win it all. We'll have to see how they fare going forward.