Eagles Polar-Plucked by Briskly Blizzards!

Ornithology appeared to be the “in” thing on Sunday afternoon in Fredericton as an impressive crowd gathered at the Grant-Harvey Arena to witness the first showdown between the Oromocto Giant Tiger Eagles and the hosting DQ Blizzards!
 
As the first puck dropped on the ice surface, the DQ Blizzards’ defensive cavalry went into overdrive, frustrating the avian crew from leaving their nest!  Forecheckers #11 Lawrence, #15 Mossman and #20 Young capitalized on their sheltering allies’ vigilance by putting the hosting team in a four goal lead by the end of the first period.
 
#20 Young snowballed the Eagles in the early minutes of the second period!  But it was no ‘peaceful easy feeling’ for the Blizzards during the clock’s final minutes when they found themselves two players short.  “The Birds” film director Alfred Hitchcock would have been impressed as a flock of feathered foes plunged into their rivals’ defensive zone and managed to clutch a claw behind their prey’s crease. 
 
However, with high altitude comes a drop in temperature and the visiting team came into the third with ice on their wings! #2 Johnston seized his first of two third-period opportunities at 11:54 by dropping a pellet deep into the opponents’ net!  19 seconds later, #15 Mossman carbon-copied his teammate’s ruse! 
 
Despite 23 pecking and clawing distractions (against 34 icicles!) , #30 Cormier stood solid and strong protecting his ice castle, leaving his foes clawing off the ice featherless by the end of the third after suffering a 8 - 2 loss to their Fredericton rivals...