In a playoff-type game, the YDE Thunder JV Hockey Team upset the Flatbush Falcons 4-3, in a tight and aggressive affair at the Thunder Dome on Monday night (11/11) which also had a playoff - like atmosphere from the fans who packed to the gills to watch this Battle of Brooklyn.
Coming into the game, the Thunder knew they were underdogs against a strong Flatbush team, and played with avenges from the moment the puck dropped, as Bobby Tawil banged home two goals in 43 seconds, as the YDE took a quick 2-0 lead and halted the Flatbush shutout streak at 108 minutes (3 games).
Late in the 1st, the Thunder would score again, as Ikey Dweck socked one in to give the YDE a commanding 3-0 lead after 1 and have the Flatbush faithful as well as the team rattled.
One of the reasons that Flatbush was shaken, was due to the goaltending of Eddie Khezri, who made some nice saves to keep Flatbush off the board.
The intensity picked up in the 2nd period, as Flatbush came out flying and were extra aggressive. This helped them, as it was clear the refs were not in a penalty mood in this contest, so when Flatbush scored on a beautiful pass from Ezra Habert, who fed Richard Cohen in front of the net to put Flatbush on the board, you couldn’t help but think that the tables were turning in the Falcons favor.
They didn’t stop there as moments later, a Habert redirection brought Flatbush right back into the game as their fans were the one who were making the noise, with there team only down 3-2.
The rest of the period saw Flatbush keep the pressure up and shut down the YDE offense, as the teams headed to the locker room with the Thunder leading 3-2 despite the momentum clearly being on the Falcons side.
It seemed inventible, when the 3rd period began, that Flatbush would tie the game, as they once again came out aggressive, while also having goalie Morris Hanan also making some amazing saves to keep this contest a 1 goal game. As the score stayed 3-2, the YDE defense and physicality stepped up, keeping the high-flying Falcons attack at bay despite the fact that the court seemed titled to the YDE zone at times, as the Falcons pressure ramped up.
Then with 5 minutes left, the Thunder caught a break, as Sammy Franco roofed one in to give YDE breathing room and change the mood of Thunder nation, as they now had a 2 goal lead at 4-2.
Flatbush would not go down however, as Habert would strike again off a face off and close Flatbush within 4-3 with 1:30 to go, once again putting YDE on there toes.
Those final minute, featured multiple timeouts, several face offs in the YDE zone and many block shots by the YDE defense, as well as some nice saves by Khezri kept YDE in front, so when the buzzer sounded after what felt like 4:00 instead of 90 second, the YDE Thunder had shocked Brooklyn and were victorious 4-3.
MVP: YDE defense
3 STARS OF GAME:
3 Ikey Greenstein
2 Sammy Franco
1 Bobby Tawil
Shoutout to Ezra Habert though, for his playing that brought Flatbush right back into the game when things seemed bleak.
UP NEXT:
Flatbush (3-2), will play the middle game of a 3 game road trip, when they travel to New Jersey, to take on the defending champions, the Kushner Cobras (1-2) on Monday night (11/18). Game time is 7:45 PM.
The Thunder (2-0), will now embark on a 5 game road trip, with the first one coming in Monday (11/18), when they take on the SAR Sting (1-0-1-0) in Riverdale, NY. Game time is 8:15 PM.
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