GAME 2 PREVIEW: Tpark Youngstars vs Malton Mavericks @ 7:45pm

This is it. If Malton or anyone for that matter is to give the Tpark Youngstars their first defeat of the season, not just once but twice including a Game 3 abbreviated game, they only have this Saturday to do it. This is truly a win or go home scenario for the Mississauga Marauders because if Tpark does what it does best and gains the advantage, they will be hoisting the Madina Cup for the 2nd season in a row. Not since Scarborough has a team won back to back championships and not since that same Dynasty have they went totally unbeaten on the season. Malton's big men have to come through. They have to find ways to penetrate through the tight golden wall of defence and then penetrate through the bullet proof goaltending of Sibtain. Just like Game 1, there is absolutely zero margin of error now and Malton now has to play the most perfect game of their lives or else it will be 3 straight finals appearances including their Tier 2 showings without a Cup.

GAME 1: Tpark Youngstars def Malton Mavericks 1-0

To win the Madina Cup, all it takes is one split decision, one simple task and perfect execution. Already, the Youngstars of Thorncliffe Park have racked up win after win after win and so far have not tasted any sort of defeat this season. And after Game 1, they probably breathed a huge sigh of relief coming away with a 1-0 series lead by a score of the most slimmest of margins. The Tpark Youngstars and Malton Mavericks renewed hostilities Saturday night and they put on a hard fought, battle for every ball and body everyone against the boards type affair. The game was already touted to be a series in where goals were hard to come by and this was exactly the case here. However at 7:03 of the 1st with the faceoff deep in the Malton zone, Safraz Motala who is a Malton-killer accepted the ball after Mohamed Makrod won the faceoff almost too cleanly, dished to a waiting Ismail Khota who ripped it past Riaz Parekh who got a piece of it to go up 1-0. That folks, was the simple task that was executed perfectly because it stood up to be the game winner. But the Youngstars had another weapon in their arsenal that pretty much kept the score like that until the final buzzer and that weapon's name was Muhammad Sibtain. Sibtain playing on an injured toe, made not one but two collossal stops in the dying minutes to preserve the shutout win as Malton dominated the 2nd half. First Shoaib Khan found himself in front of the Tpark  net with all the time in the world, and the All Star let it rip but Sibtain's left pad denied him. Then with pressure mounting with the extra attacker and net empty, Isa Khan got the ball in the slot, turned and fired towards the empty left side of the net only to be robbed by Sibtain's right pad. The referees put away the whistles in this game and both teams played hard but disciplined and Tpark's goaltender really came through to give his team the series lead while Malton - even though they played superbly - now have to find a way to hand Tpark their first loss of the season to stay alive in this series.
 

9:30pm @ Stephen Leacock Arena 

We've seen it all season long like 3 times this season. Both these teams when going head to head play like everything is on the line. Even though the Tpark Youngstars have dominated all season going flawless, they had their troubles with this team representing the Derry and Goreway area of Mississauga. Even though the Youngstars outscored them 9-4 in the regular season, each game had that feeling as if they were destined to meet in the championship finals. And now here they are. The Madina Cup for the first time could either be held by the Maltonites or it could be raised for the 2nd season in a row from a new emerging dynasty in the Tpark Youngstars. The Mavs go up against a formidable offence lead by probably the best MHL player today in Safraz Motala and also against the best MHL goaltender in its history so far in Muhammad  Sibtain. Already Safraz has feasted on these Mavs with 6 points which include a game winning goal, a game-tying goal which lead to a game winning shootout goal. And if the Mavs find a way to stop him, his linemates of Hasanji Patel and Mohamed Makrod are right there to do damage of their own so the Mavs hands will be full. Rizwan Hassan however has stepped up and has taken this team to where it is now with his no-fear defence and calm presence on the offensive line. He has some effective arsenal of his own as both Adil Patel and Zaid Toorawa are playing exceptionally well in these playoffs. The goaltending of Riaz Parekh will have to stand strong and be alert at all times as the Youngstars run a machine-gun offence and since Ali Wadee has come on board, they have become even more dangerous due to his wide range of vision and experience on the floor. Get ready for a very tight defensive series as both teams will have trouble scoring on each other. 

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TIER 1 - SEMI FINAL RESULTS


Malton Mavericks eliminate Markhamtown Pirates
Wins series 2-0

The Mavs early in the season were the early favouries to hit the Championship finals. But a string of losses in the middle of the season nearly derailed that plan. And after this tough series against a very tough opponent from Markhamtown, they found a way to hold off a barrage of pressure to advance into the finals for the first time as a Tier 1 competitor. Malton looked as if they were in control as they built a 2-0 1st half lead on goals by Abdur Rahim Manjra who banged in a loose ball after Anas Kadva was in the process of pouncing on it. Then Adil Patel did the damage as he had one of the best shifts of his life being banged around mercilessly along the boards but managed to come away with the ball and fire it roof-daddy. 2 minutes later however, young defensive prodigy Kadir Motiwala found himself racing down the wing and fired one past Riaz Parekh to cut the deficit to just one and to set up one of the most exciting playoff game of the night. With both teams chewing off the referees ears, they had enough and scolded the benches that it was zero-tolerance from that point on. The two teams took it to heart and played with sheer discipline and exuberance. End to end action took place and Markhamtown had a little bit of an edge and came close on numerous occasions. No one came closer than Shabaz Patel who found the ball at the slot, turned and fired which Parekh didnt react on, but it went wide just grazing the pole. Then with less than a minute left and the net empty, Shabaz again from the faceoff dot blasted on towards the net which Parekh stuck out his right pad to deny. The Maltonites lead by Rizwan Hassan made one blocked shot after the next as Rizwan lead the way with 3 of his own and as the buzzer went, the Mavericks with all their bumps and bruises, earned their spot in the Madina Cup finals.

TIER 1 - SEMI FINAL RESULTS

Game 1
Malton Mavericks T1 def Markhamtown Pirates: 3-2 OT
Lead Best of 3: 1-0 
 

It wasn't game 2 but it did feel like it. Malton and Markham battled all game to take this game and it resulted in some injuries, timely penalties and a game ending in extra time. With a depleted lineup, Markham came into the game with only a handful of subs. They however showed a lot of fight in blocking key shots, fending off some huge pressure situations and also getting help from the goalpost near the end of regulation off a Zaid Toorawa shot. Markham got goals from Bilal Uddin and Aadil Kadva while the Mavs answered with both Shaoib Khan and Adil Patel scoring to tie it at 2's. Markham's Parsa Monsef suffered a separated shoulder which took him out of the game and a little wind out of his team's sails. In OT, Ammal Esmatyar deked through 3 guys but as he tried going across the crease, he made contact with the Mavs goalie to get sent to the box. The Mavs then ended it with their 2nd powerplay marker of the night off a shot from Rizwan Hassan to take Game 1.

TIER 2 - QUARTER FINAL RESULTS
 

One-Game Knockout

The Bandits came in well prepared for their playoff game as they were in search of their first franchise playoff win and the Mavericks were the opposite as they did not have their regular goaltender between the pipes as Farhan Saleh was inserted last minute. The Bandits would smell blood and attack as they amassed 15 shots in the first period with 4 of them going in and 3 of those off the hands of Uzair Limbada and one of them off Yahya Haje who had an impressive 3 point period. The Mavs managed only 6 shots in the first with only one finding the back from Yusuf Ingar. Farhan Saleh would get into a groove in the second and not allow a goal but the Mavs did not feel the urgency to comeback until the 4 minute mark where they would reel off 3 goals in 2 and a half minutes with goals from Yusuf Ingar - with his 2nd of the game - Zahid Panchbaya and Yusuf Ingar again to complete the comeback and the hat-trick to force a 10 minute sudden death overtime period. Each team would have a 3 goal scorer going into the period and it would be Uzair Limbada for the Bandits netting his 4th goal  at the 7:44 mark of OT with a laser of a shot that hit the top corner giving the Bandits their first playoff victory.
 

PLAYOFF PREVIEWS

Both teams come into the playoffs losing their last game of the season but that is nothing new for them as they continue the trend of win one lose one as consistency has not been assosciated with these teams. With that trend it is most likely this series will go to a sudden death game 3. Lots of goals are expected from both sides as both netminiders Anas Kadva and Riaz Parekh have yet to establish themselves as bonafide goal keeps and with snipers like the Esmatyer bros, Aadil Kadva, Shabbaz Patel and Sayyad Abdul-Lateef for Markham and Shoaib Khan, Syed Ahmed and Rizwaan Hassan for Malton, the referees might have a hard time remembering numbers on scoring plays. Add in that both teams make frequent trips to the penalty box will make for a wide open series.

TIER 2 - QUARTER FINAL PREVIEWS

 

One-Game Knockout

Probably one of the most deceiving teams in Makkah are the Palace Bandits. They started hot, went sub zero and then turned it up a notch going into the playoffs which is a good sign for them. They possess the most potent scorer in the division in Uzair Limbada who has been a nice bright spot for them. The Mavs didnt have one of their best seasons and were manhandled in all facets of the game. But when they did show up in their 4 wins, they played with a lot more poise and it remains to be seen which team will show up come Saturday night.