Roosters Fall 5-4 After Late Goal and Injury to Steffen

OCTOBER 15, 2020: The Roosters have fallen back into third in the division following a 5-4 loss to the Pylons last night in a questionably called game.

The Pylons got on the board first with two quick goals from Peter and Joseph Tahn halfway through the first, where not long after that Contreras scored on a penalty shot to bring the Roosters within one. The Pylons added one back on a goal that should have been called off due to being in the crease, but the goal stayed. Hope would add a goal on a nice pump fake to his backhand on a penalty shot to once again bring it within one. Peters scored again for the Pylons making it a 4-2 game going into the second. Peters' second goal was a penalty shot goal, the first Eshelby has allowed all season so far.

Contreras and Kenyi added two huge goals near the halfway point of the second period to tie it all up at four a piece. After getting many well-deserved calls in the first period, the referee decided to "even things up" by making some phantom calls on Regnier. Regnier got called for a high stick after his stick was nowhere near the opposing player's face, but Eshelby put aside both penalty shots to keep it tied up. Just over a minute later, Regnier got called for body contact after the same opposing player dove to draw the call, which ultimately forced Regnier out of the remainder of the game. Eshelby once again set aside both penalty shots. As the clock winded down to under five minutes to play, Eshelby got struck with a puck up high, but play was not blown dead as it was supposed and play continued. After a turnover in the offensive zone, Lukash was able to come down and squeak one past a shaken-up Eshelby to put the Pylons up by one.

The final two minutes of play were something else. Steffen rushed the puck up and cut through the defenders before getting taken down in front of the net and crashing into the Pylons goaltender. While Gillespie was alright, Steffen had to be helped off the ice with a knee injury. The clock was still running and Steffen was somehow called for goaltender interference. After a short debate, the Pylons intentionally wasted 45 seconds off the clock before taking the penalty shot which Eshelby stopped. Unick took the puck down, got it back to Hope for the last second attempt that almost snuck in, but did not go making the final score 5-4 Pylons.

TEAM HIGHLIGHTS:

- Contreras continues to lead the team in goals with 9, and is now tied with Unick leads in points with 9 after tonight.

- Steffen will be evaluated by doctors tomorrow and will determine how long he will be out of the lineup for.

- Eshelby stopped 33/38, including 5/6 penalty shots; his first penalty shot goal allowed on the season making him 18/19 now.

Next game is Wednesday night as the Roosters take on the 5-0-0 Blue Devils with puck drop at 8:30PM at Jemini Arena!

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