In terms of entertainment, that is right up there. We’ve been spoilt for close, competitive games this season, but I’ve not seen many closer than that. After the Peterborough semi-final a fortnight ago, I didn’t think it could get much more dramatic, but here we are.
I was with a couple of Calgary Flames fans who had last been to a Haringey game over two years ago. Did you know Calgary is often thought of as the Texas of Canada? Me neither. What a re-introduction this was though. You couldn’t have picked a better game to showcase how great hockey can be here.
It’s quite a cagey opening few minutes, with no chances of real quality.
Pete Toth dumps it into the zone, it takes a nick off the boards and lands right in front of Ruskin Springer Hughes at the hashmarks whose shot hits, rather than is saved by, the totally oblivious netminder.
Carl Etuazim gains the zone but gets picked off. Marton Szasz goes through but shoots over. Huskies are slowly turning it up without much incision.
The first Chelmsford goal then comes as a surprise. Off the right, it’s carried to the slot and using a Haringey player as a screen, shoots inside the side netting after six minutes.
But Haringey aren’t deterred and come again with more chances. Rob Rejna shoots wide from the left wing. Will Nowik gains the zone but is blocked out. Carl goes coast-to-coast and draws a stick save from the slot. Decent effort.
The Warriors double their lead after only seven-and-a-half minutes in the first. Not a great start for the Huskies, who haven’t really done much wrong but can’t make those opportunities in front of net stick.
Haringey strike back pretty quickly though, making the most of the powerplay. It’s worked around the back of the net and comes out to Courtney Grant who sends a wrister from the right point straight into the bottom of the net. Great finish.
A friend of mine came to see the 5-3 win over MK Thunder here in November and told me that Courtney was fast becoming his favourite player. It’s easy to see why.
A minute later it’s 2-2, Ryan Payne carries it out into centre ice and his shot finds the bottom left corner. Wow. Just goes to show what can happen when you put it on net!
There’s tussles out on the ice but nothing boiling over as yet. Perennial villain and Chelmsford D-man Nick Green prowls around the blue line, but even the return of Luke Martin doesn’t produce the fireworks we saw here last time Chelmsford visited. I imagine Haringey are keeping him on a very short leash.
Chelmsford take the lead again though. Some slick passing across the offensive zone and a shot from the left beats Petr Čech, very much against the run of play that one. Haringey finish the period strongly. Cam Pow ripples the side netting from the point, Ruskin finds Will who lifts the puck over the bar on the backhand, and Conner Smith has a shot saved from the right.
We trail after the first. The shots on goal figures make for some entertaining reading. Chelmsford have seven shots on net in the first period, scoring three goals. Kaleb Sheahan in the Chelmsford net is by far the busier netminder, dealing with 19 shots, yet the Warriors end the period 2-3 up. Clinical from Chelmsford.
It’s a slower start to the second. Luke makes a brilliant clearance at the crease to deny a goal and is there again twice in quick succession to block the Chelmsford attack.
Halfway through the second, Rob ties it up again for 3-3, cutting in from the left and ripping from the slot. What a finish.
Jaden Boolkah is gloved off the draw. Chelmsford breakaway down the left and shoot agonisingly wide, and Petr makes an impressive double-save soon after.
Marton gives Haringey the lead for the first time in the game, with a vital goal on the powerplay making it 4-3.
Chelmsford throw the kitchen sink at it in the third period, putting 17 shots on net. More than the previous two periods combined.
Oli Cooper is denied at the crease and it’s kicked out. Stuart Appleby shares the same fate. Carl finds Marton from behind the net who can only shoot wide. Petr makes a sting of big saves to maintain the Huskies’ lead. All feels like it’s coming to a head.
At last Chelmsford make the breakthrough, with only five minutes remaining in the game. It’s worked over to the right-hand side and it’s a one-timer that beats Petr for pace. How are your nerves?
Carl pounces on a mistake and drives to the net with an amazing finish from close in. 5-4 with minutes to spare.
Chelmsford call timeout to get their ducks in a row. They come again, and Petr is forced into even more heroics, flashing the leather at every opportunity. With a minute-and-a-half left on the clock, Conner eventually find the back of the net after several Haringey attempts. There’s daylight, there’s a lead, there’s safety.
But with a minute left Chelmsford pull the netminder and the play works to perfection. They make the extra skater count and it flies in from the left for 6-5 and a very, very nervy finish.
The Warriors continue to knock on the door, and with 30 seconds left Petr makes a huge save and covers up, taking the sting out of it.
In the end we see out a very difficult tie. Chelmsford made us work so hard for the win, that’s the closest game between the two sides I’ve ever seen.
Carl is awarded Player of the Match. I thought he was great and has been all season, his goal was brilliant and his work rate never seems to dip.
Our next two games continue in the Eddie Joseph Memorial Cup. Oxford on the road, Lee Valley at the Palace. Win those and we secure a place in the final, regardless of any other results. I wouldn’t bet against either of those being equally as dramatic. This isn’t for the fainthearted, that’s for sure.
Let’s Go Huskies.
