The Scope

The IceCaps’ first home stand of 2012 was to be a pitched battle for first place in the Atlantic Division against the at-the-time-one-point-up-with-four-more-games-played Manchester Monarchs–farm team of the Los Angeles Kings. While the scores were somewhat close–4-2 and 3-2–the smaller, faster, shiftier ‘Caps mostly skated circles around the bigger, badder, slower Monarchs. Taking back first place, with a vengeance.

Morgan Murray was there to Live Tweet all the action, and Colin Peddle was there to shoot it.

Friday’s Game Live Tweet-by-Tweet

IceCaps 4 — Manchester Monarchs 2

Happy New Year hockeytweet fans. Morgan Murray in the attic of Mile One for the IceCaps vs Manchester Monarchs.

Big things have been afoot in Caps land. All except Cormier are back from the ‘Peg.

But there are a lot of scratches: Nos. 17, 18, 19, 20 & 21. That incls. Garth Vader Murray & leading scorer Marco Rosa.

Murray draws the short straw because of the AHL vetern rule (5/game). No word on Rosa, can’t see the leading scorer sitting.

As for the game, this is a BIG one. The Monarchs are 1 point up on the Caps for 1st in their division.

This one’s for all the marbles. Or, as they say in #hockeylingo a four pointer.

These two heavyweights are in the feeling each other out stage still. But Cap’n Jaffray has created a few chances. Glad he’s back.

Jaffray’s bank account probably feels otherwise. #carrythezero

Kevin Clark “Kent” draws a penalty. Caps to the power play. Which one of the 4 1st lines will Coach send out? #firstplacepains

Caps pp doesn’t get anything other than a few shots. And not long afterwards Festerling takes a penalty. PP Monarchs.

Booooo-narchs. Caps PK can’t clear. Rebound squeaks out to Czarnik who has a tap in. 1-0 bad guys. #ohno

Caps 4th line, specifically Gregoire has some jump and draws a penalty.

Holy moly whadda goalie. ‘narch’s Zatkoff stops one with his toe nail, then BMX (Ben Maxwell) clanks one off the post. #ohsoclose

Ca-a-a-pppppy… Jaffray takes a holding penalty off the face off and now the ‘narchs go to the PP.

Turnabout is fair play. Aebischer makes 2 heroic saves to keep it close. The fans go craaaaazy! #woohoo

Section 103 just whooped section 104 in the pass the puck relay. #takethat

The Caps 4th line–Gregoire, Odell, Albert–hasn’t got a lot of ice time, but when they have they’ve been dangerous.

1st period ends 1-0 ‘narchs. Caps out shot them 15-10 and had the better chances. #moralvictories

And now some grown ups in helmets do an obstacle course to win a gym membership. http://pic.twitter.com/XEuPAE96

A super fit MUN student wins in a landslide. They should give the gym membership to the loser. They need it more.

While we sit around watching water freeze, didya know 3 Caps are going to the All-Star Game? Postma, Redmond, and Coach McCambridge

The All-Star game is in Atlantic City. Maybe Postma will win $10 in a beauty contest or a bank error in his favour. #Monopolyjokes

BMX with a break away from the redline early in the 2nd. Nice move. Nicer save. Still 1-zip.

The Caps 4th line is back and Gregoire clanks one off the post at the end of a beaty passing play. #ohsoclose

Caps can’t buy a break. A wobbly ‘Narchs shot hits a half-dozen legs and sticks & bounces to the guy with an open net. 2-0 Narchs.

I don’t know who they paid off, but sections 102 thru 104 are getting all the goodies tonight. It’s raining shwag now.

Narchs goal scored by Vey, whose first name is Oi!

Narchs goaler Zatkoff robs Spenny Machacek twice in tight. The Caps must have spent a lot this Xmas, because they can’t buy one now

The 4th line gets another good chance. Clark Kent this time. I’m going to have to stop calling them the 4th line.

How about the 2nd line? As the Caps have 3 1st lines a, b & c (plus one sitting up in the press box).

The freshly coined 2nd line draws a penalty. Caps need one on the PP here (that means power play you weirdos).

HONK! HOOOONK! Just like that! The Caps get one on the PP. DeSantis from Jaffray. 2-1 Narchs. Cue the comeback. #ohyeah

HONK! HOOONK! Just like that it’s tied. Line 1C ties it up on a nice tip by Weller. 2-2. #newgame

Now the Narchs take a time out because they are scared of the 6287 maniacs in Mile One. They may abdicate. #royaltyjokes

The reason St. John’s doesn’t clear the side walks… Danny bought Canadian Tire out of all their shovels. http://pic.twitter.com/EmKMinTW

The Narchs cap’n's name is Cliche. I hear he’s a great interview. #110percent #oneshiftatatime

The Narchs. Coincidentally, are the LA Kings’ farm team. Get it? Monarchs? Maybe the Caps should have been the Bi-Planes.

Ever since the Narchs time out things have evened out. It’s gotten kind of awkward actually. Game’s gone kinda soft. #playharder

Of course, just as I say that things open up and they start trading chances like the 1983 Oilers-Islanders.

Garth Vader notwithstanding, I would not want to go back for a dump in with Klingberg and Weller bearing down on me #footsteps

The 2nd ends 2-2. Caps outshot the Narchs by about a million that period, leading 35-16. Who do they think they are? Sweden?

And now, dodge ball on ice. “If you can dodge a wrench (on ice) you can dodge a ball (on ice).” http://pic.twitter.com/OJ3pN1YG

Yellow wins it and then plays to the crowd. Maybe a bit too much, it was only ice dodgeball after all.

After 40 minutes we’re no closer to deciding who’s tops in the Atlantic Division. My money’s on the Caps. #takingittoem

Machacek clanks one off the cross bar. The Caps are beating up on the posts, that’s for sure.

The 2nd line gets another great chance. Clark Kent with a partial breakaway.

Not to get your hopes up, but… When the Caps get rolling they are deadly. 4 lines that just don’t quit. #gogogogogo

It’s just the getting rolling part is sometimes tricky.

Hoooooonk! The happiest Cap of them all, Weller gets the go-ahead goal, his 2nd. Out hustles the Narchs, throws it on net, 3-2 Caps

Weller never takes the easy way. Reminds me a lot of Garth Vader.

Aebisher stretches with every inch of his stick to get enough of the puck to keep it out. Huge save.

Oh oh. KMac–McArdle–takes a not-so-bright slashing penalty. It’s nail biting time.

Aebischer is holding the fort, again. A few months ago I thought he’d be on the first trawler back to Switzerland. Go figure.

Caps kill it off. KMac owes the penalty killers some Venice after the game.

The Narchs are bigger and stronger–overall–than the Caps. But all the big and all the strong don’t mean much if you can’t keep up.

The first 50/50 of 2012 is worth $13,800 exactly. You could get a pretty sweet Polaris with that.

Brett Festerling is pretty big and strong himself. Knocks big bad Jordan Nolan on his can.

Narchs want to pull their goalie, Caps get puck, Narchs can’t. Doesn’t make a difference. Cap’n Jaff gets some insurance. 4-2 Caps.

The Caps get about 15 cracks at the empty net, but can’t score. Gagnon ricocheted one off a Narchs’ head and everything.

Caps win. Caps win. Caps win. Who’s in first now Monarchs? #takethat http://pic.twitter.com/7CCfbw7s

Queen Mary’s Hardest Working Cap: Jason King

3***’s: 3. Machacek, 2. Narchs G “45 million save” Zatkoff, 1. Shawn “2 Goals and a smile” Weller.

Whew Great game. Hockey’s back. Caps are in first. Shawn Weller is back. All is right with the world. Tweet ya the rematch tomorrow

Saturday’s Game Live Tweet-by-Tweet

IceCaps 3 — Manchester Monarchs 2

Hello Hockeytweet fans. Morgan Murray back at Mile One for the exciting IceCaps vs Manchester Monarchs: Battle for 1st part II.

The Caps took part I last night, and first place back, 4-2. They mostly skated circles around the big, slow Narchs.

Last night’s 3rd star Spenny Machacek, who didn’t get a point but hit the post 19 times, gets a good chance off the rush.

Cliche takes a boarding penalty. Caps to the PP.

Caps show off their passing skills on the PP. Still awaiting their scoring skills.

The Caps 2nd/4th line of O’Dell, Clark Kent, and Gregoire were dynamite last night, and their first shift ends with a good chance.

Caps’ Albert takes a high sticking penalty. Caps on the kill. Kill Caps. Kill.

AGag (Aaron Gagnon) heroically takes one for the team. Going down to block a shot. Couldn’t pay me enough to do that.

Actually, I would do it for Alex Ovechkin money.

The 2nd line gets another 2-on-1. Clark Kent can’t finish.

There are a pair of Mummers in the house. No word whether they got their shot of screech yet for singing Danny the Hockey Song.

The overzealous snow shovel TV timeout guy biffs while shoveling. Crowd cheers. And the jerk on Twitter tweets the whole thing.

Rats. Aebischer makes a beauty save, but the rebound ends up on Narchs’ Mignardi’s stick, and then in the net. 1-0 Narchs. #ohno

Jason CornerbrooKing trips up gianormous Jordan Nolan. Narchs PP.

Right after they kill the penalty Machacek gets another great chance out of a 1-on-4. He’s due. And then some.

1st ends 1-0 Narchs. Shots are 16-9 Caps. Narchs showed flashes of a second place team. Problem is so did the Caps.

FINALLY! Machacek gets one at last, out of his 50 billion chances this weekend. Assist to Paul the Postman. 1-1. #ohyeah

Celebrity sighting: AHL all-time penalty minute leader, Dennis Bonvie is in the house. 4493 PIM in 871GP. That’s 3 days in the box.

Machacek has another amazing chance. He leads the league in just-abouts.

KISS CAM! With PA play-by-play. Always awkard. They try and get Kulda and Mannino to smooch. Kulda sprays him with water instead.

Ben Maxwell hits Narch’s Mignardi from behind. Mignardi needs help off, BMX gets kicked out. 5 min PP Narchs. BMX didn’t mean to.

It’s opposite day. Klingberg & Clark get a shorthanded 2-on-1. Just about…

Narchs Muzzin clanks one off the post. Sounds like a cowbell. Then Spenny “Justabout” Machacek and Kenny McArdle get a 2-on-1. Nope

Huge kill by the Caps. They out chanced the Narchs and everything.

Some lucky fan just won dirty hockey socks in a between whistle pick-a-bag game. I’ll bet she’s going raise a stink about that.

2nd ends tied 1-1. Shots were 12-3 Caps. That includes a 5 minute penalty kill. Yep they’re pretty good. See ya in 2nd place Narchs

And now, three grown men race bare-footed down the ice–because it wasn’t dangerous enough–for gym passes. http://pic.twitter.com/Z5GDGAdv

Over-under on Narchs shots this period? I’m taking less than 5. They’re going to really dig deep this period.

It’s not like they’re not getting chances to shoot. I am pretty sure the Caps skaters have blocked as many shots as Aebischer.

GOAL! 4th…er…2nd line finally gets one. Gregoire with mad skills. Stick handles through the slot and snipes a backhand. #ohyeah

FIGHT! Cap’n Jaffray drops them with giant goon Jordan Nolan. Nolan fights dirty. Jaffray hangs in and finishes strong. #allheart

Nolan has 2-inches, 38-lbs, and 84 PIM on Jaffray. Jaffray also offered to take off helmets–gentlemanly-like, Nolan jumped him.

Jaffray made up for Nolan’s dirty pool by not quitting when Nolan got tired and wanted to tap-out. That’ll teach ya.

The last minutes could get a bit rowdy.

Less than 5 minutes to go. Can the Caps hang on to the lead? Can the fans hang on to their hats?

DeSantis takes a hacking penalty. Big kill.

King scores. The wrong one. Dwight King. That fink. On the power play. Tie game. 2-2 with 2:31 to go.

6287 fans boo the linesman for a close offside call on Postma. #greatcrowd

Jaffray sets up Gagnon in the slot. He takes a nasty cross-check. No call. Boooooos.

Narchs’ Muzzin going back for an icing bites the dust pretty good with no one within 100-feet. The crowd goes wild.

Time out Caps after the icing. 1:17 to go.

YAY! John “Big Goal” Albert handcuffs Jones with an innocent looking shot from the slot. Caps up 3-2 with 42 ticks left.

Crowd is going nuts as the horn goes. Na-na-na-na-hay-hay-Goodbye 2nd place. 3-2 Caps win. http://pic.twitter.com/g6IA402Q

Caps finish with 36 shots, Narchs a paltry 16, only 4 in the 3rd. I win a bet… with myself!

Mary Brown’s Hardest Working Cap: Cap’n “Fisticuff” Jaffray

3***’s: 3. Narch’s Goalie “33-save” Jones, 2. Spenny “Justabout” Machacek, 1. John “GWG” Albert.

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Caps kick off 2012 at Mile One with a big sweep to reclaim 1st place. The hated Torontabe Marlies are here Tues. Tweet ya then.

Colin Peddle’s Game Gallery