San Diego Marlins fall just short of a second upset

[nerji 130]

The San Diego Marlins fell just short of a second huge upset in the VHLM playoffs. The Marlins didn't have a bad season by any means finishing in third place in the Western Conference with 87 points and a goal differential of 22. They were, however, tasked with facing the Miami Marauders (53 goal differential) in the first round of the playoffs. Miami finished tied for first in the Eastern Conference with the Ottawa Lynx (63 goal differential) at 101 points.

 

Miami got off to a great start taking the first two games for a strong 2-0 series lead which two games later would be a 3-1 lead and ready to wrap up the series. The Marlins were not ready to go home and took the next two games by scores of 3-2 and 5-3 leaving the series going to a seventh and final game.

 

Game 7 would be a tightly contested affair with Miami scoring at 18:53 of the third period to tie the game at 2. This game was going to overtime! Kenny Etsa Ramiran would provide the heroics scoring at 4:14 sending the Marlins to the second round after knocking off the strong Marauders.

 

While the Marlins celebrated their victory, the playoffs would not get any easier for them as their next opponent was the Ottawa Lynx who were well rested after knocking out Halifax 21st in four games to one.

 

This would be another close series with San Diego facing elimination in game 6 of the series. The Marlins got out to a quick start and 2-0 lead after the first period. Ottawa would counter with a goal in the second and another in the third tying the game up and sending the game to overtime. The Marlins were hoping to overtime luck to strike again and after Gregger McKeggegger picked up a penalty for hooking they saw their opportunity on the power play. Reinhard von Kongming would pick up his first goal of the playoffs sending the Marlins fans home happy. The Marlins would live to see another game seven.

 

Game seven would get off to a rough start for the Marlins as Ottawa would finish the first period out in front 2-0. Those two goals were on 6 shots as the Marlins carried an 11-6 shot advantage after one. The second period would see no goals scored and this period was carried by Ottawa leading the shot clock 11-7.

 

The third period saw the intensity turned up and under two minutes in Jasper Davis would notch his 6th of the post season getting the Marlins to within one. At the 5:49 mark, Reinhard von Kongming would pick up his 2nd of the playoffs tying the game at two. It was starting to look like the Marlins may have a real chance at a second upset with momentum on their side.

 

Unfortunately for them, Sjin would take a hooking penalty killing the momentum for San Diego and putting them shorthanded. Roughly a minute into the kill, FISTED ANALLY BY A CIRCUS MONKEY Analfist would net his 6th of the playoffs putting Ottawa ahead 3-2 in the game.

 

With twelve minutes remaining in the game, there was plenty of time for the Marlins to get one back. Time was now the enemy for the Marlins. A penalty late in the period had them killing off two minutes of Ottawa power play but they would then have a final chance with just under a minute left as Ottawas Winston Dixon jr picked up a hooking penalty. Despite a flurry of activity around the Lynx net, Ottawa would hang on for the victory!

 

Was a fun run to watch for the Marlins! Ottawa would go on to face the Mexico City Kings.

 

622 words

 

Edited March 14, 2023 by nerji