PSU hockey: Live blogging to earn our keep

Sometimes we here at the Vanguard are forced to earn our cheap plastic media credentials by doing some crazy thing called reporting. Personally, I find it rather presumptuous and demanding, but I really like the pass. It's shiny, and I'm easily amused.

So, tonight we're at the Valley Ice Arena in Beaverton, bringing you, our dear readers, a live-blog glimpse of the second in a two-game series between the Portland State hockey club and the team from the University of Oregon.

Last night's match-up ended in favor of the Ducks, who ran away with the game early with a 5-2 lead after two periods. Halfway into the third, two PSU goals in under a minute made it an interesting 5-4 game, but the Viks couldn't get the puck into the net to tie it up and Oregon skated off the ice with a 6-4 win after an empty-net goal with 10 seconds left.

Read more after the jump!


Pre-game

I can't say enough about how these games differ from the traditional (read: sponsored by the Athletics Department) sports. The hockey club doesn't have a staff to keep stats, or do any of the various other behind-the-scenes tasks.

The players themselves haul their own gear around, and they have volunteers and parents to help keep stats, run the scoreboard and do the announcing. There's a sense of community here. This is how sporting events should be!

I was just informed they do not sell alcohol here. I retract my above statement.

1st Period

5:06, Tied 0-0
It looks like last night's loss lit a fire under the collective ass of the Portland State squad. As soon as the puck hit the ice, they have come out with strong, physical play. A PSU major penalty for what I'll call "punching an opposing team's player in the back of the head" negates an early power play.

12:47, 1-0 Oregon
Oregon strikes first. Derek Wolfson scores unassisted on a 5-on-4 power play.

15:24
The Ducks are keeping pressure on Portland State goalie Ryan Stanchfield. Two intense, diving saves by Stanchfield keep a barrage of Oregon shots from increasing the lead.

17:02
I love this game. Oregon's Erik Brody completely misses a board check behind the PSU net. As Brody approaches to make the hit, the Portland State skater slides out of the way, leaving Brody to eat the boards all by himself. He slams into the boards, bounces back and falls flat on the ice. Great skating Brody.

End of the 2nd period, 1-0 Oregon

2nd Period

6:41, 2-0 Oregon
Oregon's Kevin Trihey grabs a rebound and slips the puck past Stanchfield for the Ducks' second goal. My fingers are getting cold.

8:47
This game is getting Physical, with a capital-P for Punching.

9:53
Portland State's Tucker Dougherty makes a great deke move to glide past the Oregon defense, but can't get the angle on the net. He wraps around the back of the net, but the Ducks' defenders break up the play before it can develop.

10:08
PSU is called for "roughing," but the call could just as well have been "slamming into the goalie after the whistle." I disagree with this. I think it's the goalies fault he didn't get out of the way.

11:56, 3-0 Oregon
The Ducks do not heed the advice of Emilio Estevez and fail to use the Flying-V formation, but still get the puck past Stanchfield. In what I assume was his way of reminding the U of O squad to ALWAYS listen to coach Gordon Bombay, Stanchfield shoves the Oregon scorer when he goes to celebrate.

Side note: Wasn't the fat, black guy on SNL the fat, black kid in the Mighty Ducks?

16:18
Oregon goalie Wren Arbuthnot (who's parents apparently love bird watching) makes a save, but has the puck drop behind him. As the puck inches toward the net, he swipes it away from the red line to keep his shutout alive.

17:01, 4-0 Oregon
Stanchfield slips coming out of the crease when he goes to chase an approaching puck. The Ducks score on the empty-net opportunity.

17:52, 5-0 Oregon
Another Oregon goal. This game is starting to feel like a repeat of last night's. Oregon has the momentum and Portland State can't seem to set up any solid plays in the Ducks' zone.

End of the 2nd Period, 5-0 Oregon

3rd Period

4:32
Portland State came out strong in the third. Good open-ice hits and pressure on the puck are going to bring this game to life.

5:03, 5-1 Oregon
Portland State's Hunter Levengood wrists the puck past Arbuthnot to get the Vikings on the board.

7:43, 5-2 Oregon
Oregon's Erik Brody drops to the ice. I would explain why, but I didn't see it. I was too busy trying to thaw my hands. Portland State takes advantage of the moment and score. Emilio Estevez would not be happy.

Side note: It's surprising how much warmth you can feel coming off a laptop keyboard.

11:40
Portland State is on the power play and keeping the pressure on the Ducks' net. They don't appear to have any problem setting up plays now. PSU's Anthony Libonati takes a one-time shot, but it doesn't find the net.

13:47
Oregon goes on the power play again. Portland State's penalty kill is about to be tested.

14:24, 6-2 Oregon
Stanchfield stops four shots in less than 30 seconds, but the fifth bounces off his pads and Oregon's Tom Stocklin guides the puck around him, wristing it in the net.

17:56
The physical play in this game is beginning to make things interesting. Libonati is removed from the ice for a late-game roughing penalty.

18:16
And Portland State's Ryan Ellis is also escorted off the ice by the refs after a late-game whistle.

19:11
In front of the PSU net, Oregon's Justin LaCasse uses his fist to remind a Portland State defender that violence is the answer in hockey. The ref's whistle is apparently too cold to be used, and play resumes with no call made.

End of game, 6-2 Oregon

If anyone needs me, I'll be warming my hands by the burning, overturned cars in the parking lot after the impending riot breaks out.