Toronto Power Wheelchair Hockey League – M.D. Cup Playoff Championship Finals Week 2 Recap

Finals (Week 2) hosted one exciting Championship game – Bulldogs (9-9-2) vs. Kings (9-8-3).

Game 2 (Bulldogs vs. Kings)  With the Kings taking game 1 of the series, the Bulldogs knew it wouldn’t be easy but they came ready to play and it didn’t take long for the Kings to realize it wasn’t going to be their day.

Period One began and within 10 seconds (00:10) the Bulldogs inflicted damage.  A Jerry Mariano touch pass to Franco Paonessa, high in the slot, caught Kings Keeper Leo Xu blinking and  a bullet to the top corner put the Kings down one and back on their heels.  With the Kings  reeling, the Bulldogs quick push drew the Kings into costly penalty trouble.  A couple of  minor penalties (Marcel Adarkawa – In the Crease & Isaac Vescio – Dangerous Driving at 5:55) put the Kings down two and resulted in a Bulldogs Jerry Mariano (Franco Paonessa) Power Play goal at 6:40.  Then a David Donnelly minor (Backing Up) at 10:05 resulted in another Bulldogs  Mariano/Paonessa Power Play marker and the Dogs were proving they could bite.  3-0 Bulldogs.

Period Two saw both sides trade a couple of Power Play chances including a double minor to Bulldogs Franco Paonessa (High Sticking) at 1:29 but the Kings could not take advantage nor could the Bulldogs inflict any further damage and the frame would end scoreless.

Period Three saw the Bulldogs press quickly and at 2:05 Franco Paonessa picked up a rebound off Jerry Mariano and slid it home past Kings Keeper Leo Xu to put the Bulldogs up 4-0.  It took a while but the Kings finally started to show a little life and at 5:55 Isaac Vescio (unassisted) picked up a loose ball at the top of the hash marks in the Bulldogs zone and fired it past Bulldogs Keeper Mohit Sharma putting them back within three of the Dogs.  But this all proved too little too late and the Kings couldn’t muster any further offense.  With the seconds winding down (14:15) the Bulldogs struck again making it a “Hat Trick” for Franco Paonessa and another assist for Jerry Mariano. Final 5-1 Bulldogs over Kings.  Series tied  at one apiece.  The Championship will have to be decided in a “Winner Takes All” Game Three.

On May 14th 2016, the  Playoffs continue and it all will be decided with Game 3 of the Championship Finals! at Sunnyview Public School. Come watch the TPWHL next Saturday from 12:30 to 3:30 PM.