Official Game Summary

Glastonbury, CT April 2, 2009. ZRink - Killingworth Guppies Spring 2009 season.

04/02/2009- Thursday night the Guppies had a scary task at hand. Beat the top team in their Division, Monster, and get back to .500 on the season. Things started well for the Fish as Keith Millen (1-2-3) made a great pass from behind the Monster's net and found Jason Zito (1-1-2), who buried it for the 1-0 Guppies lead. Only minutes later, Rob Murphy would score on the Power Play to give the Guppies a 2-0 lead. The Gupps were playing their best hockey of the season. Then a mid-dek collision between Murphy and Brian Kelly (4-0-4) hushed the rowdy ZRink crowd. Both players got up but Murphy had a gash in his right ear and had to leave the game. The loss of their top player put the Guppies bench in some turmoil and Monster took advantage scoring to cut the Fish's lead  in half, 2-1.  Kelly would scored midway through the half and scored again a few minutes later to give the Guppies a commanding 4-1 lead. Monster would score a shorthanded goal in the final minutes of the Half only to be answered seconds later as Brian Mulcahy (0-3-3) found Keith Millen for the Power Play goal. At the Half the Guppies were in control and held a 5-2 lead.

The Guppies seem to be having a tough time with the start of the Second Half this season. Last week they gave up three goals to Pro Health in the first minute of the Second. This week they allowed Monster to score two goals in the first five minutes, which put the game in Jeopardy. Monster kept coming at the Gupps with multiple odd man rushes but they were turned aside by Guppies netminder Joe Linskey. Up by one, Guppies defenseman, Dan Pequita (1-1-2) made a great pass allowing Kelly to walk in on a breakaway. Kelly converted and the Guppies again had a two goal cushion. Monster had no quit and scored again to make it a one goal game. Things looked good for Monster when, with just under five minutes remaining,  they would go on the Power Play after Zito was called for hooking. However, it  went bad for Monster after Kelly won a battle along the boards and walked in shorthanded to score his fourth of the night.  Marc Crayton was asked to comment on Kelly's four goals in a post game interview "I'm out there doing all the real work while he gets the glory! I'm use to it at this point." Pequita's goal minutes later would seal the deal and moved the Guppies to 2-2 on the season. "It was a solid effort from everyone tonight" stated Mike Halle in an post game interview with ESPN Radio.

Next Week the Guppies face off against an equally talented House Brothers team. During the Killingworth Guppies Post Game show Guppies' forward Dave Armenia stressed the importance of next weeks game "We need this win to get over .500 for the first time this season! However, House Brothers is always tough to play against. It should be a great hockey game". Game time is 9pm and tickets are still available.

SIDE NOTES:

- Tim Poulin was a healthy scratch.

- Rob Murphy showed up with his new pair of Nike/Bauer Roller blades. He's hoping to use them for the entire game next week!

-The Murphy/Kelly hit sent Murph to the local hospital where he received 5 stitches in his right ear. The trooper that he is, Murphy made it back to the post game press interviews.

- The Guppies welcomed back defenseman Jon Stevenson Thursday night. Stevenson played in his first game since last season's championship game. We all know what happened there.

BOX SCORES: