Pee Wee Division
Red Sabres outscore Sharks, 5-2 in playoff opener

The Pee Wee Red Sabres and Flyers started their playoff season on Sunday afternoon at the Amherst Pepsi Center. The Red Sabres won 5-2.

The Red Sabres came out to win and put the game nearly out of reach before the Sharks could adjust their game to even the play.

The first period play was almost totally dominated by the Red Sabres.

Matt Berke of the Red Sabres carried the puck end-to-end and scored an unassisted goal 2:02 into the period. Just 45 seconds later, Michael Hourigan scored again for the Red Sabres. Assists were awarded to Jacob Berke and Tom Garrity who moved the puck around the net, eventually passing to Hourigan in the slot.

The Red Sabres made the score 3-0 at 3:21 of the first period when Ryan Rego scored on a rebound in front of the Sharks' goal. Assists were given to Eric Fiegel and Paul Blasio, who each put a shot on goal.

The Sharks' Michael States and Josh Sauter each had breakaways but were stopped by Red Sabres goaltender Andrew Kean, who probably had his best game in goal this year.

The first period ended with two goals by the Red Sabres in quick succession. With 49 seconds remaining, Garrity carried the puck to the front of the goal and scored unassisted. With 22 seconds left in the period and while on the power play, Fiegel put a shot high on the glove side and scored after a great pass from Rego who was given the assist.

The second period saw a lot more play in the Red Sabres end. The Sharks' Chris Barbolini scored their first goal at 2:40 of the second period while playing with a two-man advantage. Michael Hillery and Mitch Miller were given assists.

The remainder of the period featured spectacular forechecking by Red Sabres' Robert Paslaqua, Ryan Maghran and Missy Mallon and great defensive plays by the Sharks' Mae Sementilli, Lynn Sementilli and Chris Lillis.

Sharks' goaltender Joe Brady frustrated the Red Sabres by making saves on shots that looked like sure goals.

The third period was played much like the second with both teams playing their hearts out. At 3:01 of the third period, Joseph Michotek scored an unassisted goal for the Sharks on a good shot through a crowd in front of the Red Sabres' goal. Both teams demonstrated their considerable hockey skills for the last nine minutes of play, but goaltenders, Kean and Brady, turned the game into a goaltenders' show.

The Sharks' Daniel Sturniolo, Michael Shoemaker and Jeffery Hughes all had opportunities to score but were unsuccessful. The game ended with the score of in favor of the Red Sabres.

For the Red Sabres, Mike Heyden and Mark Lisenski played strong games on defense with each making more than a few outstanding plays.

For the Sharks, Ryan Hillery and Paul Meosky had great games at both ends of the ice.