Winter 2019 Award Winners & Nominees
Bruins Capture First Ever Verdi Cup!
Finals MVP Adil Patel
VS 
Game 2 Preview
Sharks Vs Bruins @ 9:15 pm
Game 1 is one the Sharks are hoping to recreate in search of Verdi Cup glory while the Bruins are long over it. The Bruins were shutout in Game 1 and can blame their lack of a starting line up. Expect this game to be vastly different with full attendance, and the Sharks will have to put up some work. Should the Bruins take Game 2, expect a sudden death Game 3 to follow to determine who takes home MMGL glory.
Game 1: Sharks defeat Bruins 11-0
The Bruins and Sharks played a Game 1 that no one in their right minds would have predicted. Given the Cinderella story twist to the Bruins, one would imagine there would be a zeal to hustle and dominate. On the contrary, the Bruins were without both Patel brothers and Mohammed Kazi, leaving Suhaib Shaikh at the helm to defend his team. The Sharks were without Pavan Dulai, but that hardly made a difference as the Sharks understandably dominated. The first period saw 5 unanswered goals rocket past netminder Abbas Shaikh, with a hat trick coming from Syed Ahmed. The Bruins had no answer as the defence repeatedly collapsed. The second period saw another 4 goals from Ahmed, shutting out the Bruins 11-0 for the win. This is a first in MMGL history, and one the Bruins hope not to repeat in Game 2. Expect much more in Game 2.
Game 1: Sharks Vs Bruins @ 9:15
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Verdi Cup Finals! This season we have a true underdog story, with the second place Bruins taking on the fourth place Sharks. With a 5-3 record for the Bruins and 2-6 for the Falcons, no one would have imagined this match-up for the Finals. The Sharks finessed their way in with great precision and discipline, while the Bruins have brought to the table skill and heart. There is no way to call this game one way or the other, so buckle up and enjoy every last minute!
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Playoffs
Semi Finals Game 2 Summaries
Sharks defeat Falcons 9-6
Sharks win Series 2-0
The Falcons took on the Sharks in what turned out to be a game that no one saw coming. The Falcons, without some key players, scored first, but the Sharks took control early with a trifecta of goals despite having only one sub on the bench. The first period ended with a 4-2 Sharks lead and the Falcons struggling to stay afloat. The second period saw the Falcons net a pair to tie things up and force the Sharks to reconsider their approach. The Sharks regrouped and put up everything they had with a 5 goal second period to rout the Falcons 9-6. Sharks win this series a clean 2-0 and knock out the President's trophy winners. Oh how they mighty have fallen! The Finals will be an interesting one...
Game 2: Nordiques defeat Bruins 10-9 OT
Game 3: Bruins defeat Nordiques 1-0 OT
Bruins Win Series 2-1
The Nords and Bruins were without a doubt the game of the night. Both teams pushed hard and traded goals back and forth on the night, with them tied at three each at first period end. Note that the Bruins had the upper hand in the series with a 1-0 lead. The Bruins had the slight lead in the second and victory seemed all so close before Indy Pabla would force an overtime with his late goal. The 3-on-3 OT and Pabla would be the hero again, netting the winner for the Nords in game 2 to force a series tie. And with that, it all came down to the Game 3 additional OT, where every little misstep and mistake could mean the end of the road for the teams. As both teams traded opportunities back and forth, the hero would be Mohammed Dippy Patel connecting a one-timer pass from older brother Adil Patel. And with that, the Bruins have their first ever chance at the Verdi Cup!
Semi Finals Game 1 Summaries
Sharks defeat Falcons 8-7 SO
The MMGL semi-finals kicked off and the teams did not disappoint! The Falcons and Sharks faced off in the most exhilarating game of the night. Both goalies stood tall and played a very different game from that of the regular season. The Sharks were a strong force in the first, with 5 goals coming from all around. The Falcons managed to net three past netminder Ridwaan Khanji, who was pivotal in keeping his team afloat. The second period saw the Sharks leading by one with just two minutes left in play. Yusuf Ingar would score his last one of the night to tie things up at 7-7 and force the very first OT. Syed Ahmed had a chance to end it all with just 30 seconds left in regulation, but was denied by netminder AK. The 3 on 3 five minute OT failed to produce any results and forced the game to a shootout. Khanji stood tall and stopped all attempts from the Falcons, while Shoaib Khan and Syed Ahmed would net the win for the Sharks. Sharks win 8-7 in SO.
Bruins defeat Nordiques 12-10
The Bruins took on the Nords in what was a hell of a gun show with goals left, right, and centre. The Bruins took control with the first two goals of the game, and managed to dominate 10-4 by the end of the first thanks to the core of the Patel Bros, Mohammed Kazi, and Suhaib Shaikh. The second half was a completely different game as the Nords came out firing from all angles and brought the game within one, just trailing 11-10. This was a valiant effort from the likes of Divesh Sharma and Prateek Johal. With just two minutes left in regulation, Adil Patel would end it all with the final goal of the game giving the Bruins the 12-10 win. Mohammed Dippy Patel would tally a total of 7 goals on the night!
Semi Finals Game 1 Previews
Sharks Vs Falcons @ 9:15 pm
The Falcons sit atop the league with a 6-2 record and 12 points, and will be facing off against the 2-6 Sharks. For the first time ever, the MMGL will be bringing in referees from outside the league. Hard to say who will walk away with the win during the semis, as the intensity is quite unmatched. Stay tuned for what could possibly be a Cinderella story in the making.
Nordiques Vs Bruins @ 10:15 pm
The 5-3 Bruins will take on the 3-5 Nordiques in what may possibly be our closest game of the night. Both teams have shown a strong level of competitiveness over the season, and will be looking to push even harder for that extra W.
