VSN WJC Daily Review #4

[Doomsday 4,033]

 

Quarterfinals

 

World vs. Asia

 

With advancement to the Semi-Finals and a chance at a medal, Hulk Hogan's nWo held nothing back against Asia. With a dominant first period in which the nWo scored four goals, highlighted by Iangenere Risteneen scoring two goals in just over two minutes in the tail end of the period. Asia also committed three penalties, with Risteneen's second goal coming on the power play. In desperate need of an answer, Asia broke through with a Joakim Sakic goal early in the second period. The New World Order quickly responded with Lewis Dawson's second goal of the game, with Chad Magnum putting the nWo up 6-1 late in the second period. 

 

Suddenly, the game took a drastic turn as Asia roared to life. Enabled by careless penalties, Asia climbed back to within three on power play goals by Richard Penisson and Uhtred. However, disaster struck when Aleelee Kiak snuck a shot past Bennet Dahl with just four seconds left in the period to give the nWo a four goal lead. This would prove to be a deadly mistake for Asia, as a desperate rally in which they narrowed the deficit to 7-6 within the first eight minutes of the third period. Derik Eriksson got it started after a beautiful feed from Uhtred put him in position to beat Nicolas Fomba just eight seconds into the period. Two power play goals by Leon Gutzweiler later, the nWo's lead had shrunk to one. Dick Cheezy's second goal of the game less than a minute after Gutzweiler's second goal was effectively the dagger, as Asia had run out of gas. nWo escaped with an 8-6 win, earning a game against Canada with a chance at gold on the line. 

 

Semi-Finals

 

United States of America vs. Europe

 

After a disappointing round robin for both teams, a win in the Semi-Finals would immediately solve the problems of either team. Samuel Ross got the start in net for the United States, while Joakim Bruden started for Europe. Both needed to be at their absolute best for their respective teams, and boy, did they ever deliver. The first period was scoreless, although Europe failed on three power play opportunities, the United States also came up empty on a man-advantage of their own later on. We saw more of the same in the second period, with both teams failing to convert on their two power play opportunities. 

 

As the time ticked away, it was looking as if neither team was going to be able to score. Europe got two more power plays in the first half of the third period, but they continued to be stymied by Samuel Ross and the United States' penalty killers, who went a perfect 7/7 shorthanded. Joakim Bruden continued to be outstanding as well, stopping 37 shots. Unfortunately for him, he faced 38 shots, and that lone mistake came when Shawn Glade Jr. found Finnegan MacBurn sitting in the slot, and MacBurn buried the feed for the game's first goal with just under five minutes to play. The United States sealed the deal when, with Joakim Bruden pulled for the extra attacker, Thomas Landry II potted an empty netter with twelve seconds to go. They now awaited the winner of World vs. Canada to see who stood between the United States and the gold medal. 

 

World vs. Canada

 

With a trip to face off against the United States for gold, the nWo came out guns blazing once again. Canada, however, struck first on Kristopher McDagg's goal. Undeterred, the nWo continued to rain a barrage of shots at Jacques Lafontaine, who surely was questioning the choices he had made in life during this game. Iangenere Risteneen broke through near the halfway point of the period to tie the game, a score that would hold going into the second period, and for much of the period, for that matter. However, Nicolas Fomba was beaten on a shot that was absolutely spanked by Hugh Jass on the power play later in the second period, with Erik Kellinger adding an even strength tally with less than three minutes to go. No one, however, was ready for what the third period would bring. 

 

After Blacker Velvet put the nWo down 4-1 just 30 seconds into the third, Hulk Hogan dialed his squad's attack up to 11, beginning the longest 20 minutes of Jacques Lafontaine's life. In the span of five minutes, he was peppered with shots by an nWo team desperate to keep their golden dreams alive, three of them beating him to suddenly tie the game at 4. The tie, however, was broken less than a minute later by Blacker Velvet's second goal. The nWo tied the game up again at 5 on Andrej Petrovic's second goal of the period. With overtime seemingly inevitable with Lafontaine's refusal to yield another tally against the nWo's onslaught, Erik Kellinger scored the game-winning goal with just over a minute remaining. The wild period was concluded with Justin Graves pocketing himself an empty net goal with five seconds to play, along with a massive hug from an exhausted Jacques Lafontaine. 

 

A rivalry as old as the sport of ice hockey itself.

 

The United States of America.

 

Canada.

 

The gold medal on the line.

 

It doesn't get better than this!

 

Players Mentioned: Coming after the portal search feature works again.