STROLL TO MISS NEXT GAME

July 30th, 2006

Bullets goaltender Dustin Stroll will miss the game on Tuesday night and will be replaced by Benji Lightstone.

Stroll, who suffered an elbow injury late in last week’s game, should be ready to go next week should the Bullets ensure their place in the championship finals tonight.

BULLETS WIN IN SHOOTOUT – BUT LOSE STROLL TO INJURY

July 26th, 2006

The Bullets won their second straight game in the playoffs, this time by way of shootout, against the Protected Buyer Kings. It was a bittersweet victory, however, as Goaltender Dustin Stroll left the game in the third period with what appears to be an elbow injury.

Stroll, celebrating his 21st birthday, was playing a strong game, stopping 25 of 28 before the next shot, the Buyer Kings’ 29th (of 34 total shots), knocked him out of the game. The extent of the injury is currently unknown; however we will keep you up to date as stories break.

Backup goalie Benji Lightstone took over for the injured Stroll, stopping all 5 shots during regulation and making two crucial saves during the shootout.

Yet again, the Bullets played strong and like a team. “We were shaky at points, but we recovered nicely”, forward Max Shuster explained. Shuster was referring to the Bullets early two goal lead being destroyed by three unanswered goals.

With the Bullets down by a goal late in the game, fortune swung to the Bullets side as the Buyer Kings were called for tripping. With Lightstone pulled, The Bullets threw everything they had at their opponents, and it paid off with a goal from Shuster, with 0:32 left in the powerplay and only 1:12 left in the game.

“After putting on that much pressure, we all knew that it would pay off”, Steven Spears told reporters.

That goal set up an exciting finish to a fast paced game, a shootout.

Would the fresh off the bench goalie Lightstone be able to keep up in the shootout? “We weren’t worried for a second”, said Mike Adelson. He continued, “Benji has proven to us this year that he can play with the best of them, regardless if he started the game or came in with five minutes left”.

Lightstone didn’t let the team down. After a goal from Roberts and a miss from Ceresney along with two stops by Lightstone, all the Bullets needed was a goal from their third shooter. Defenseman Mike Adelson was slated to shoot, but was replaced last second by veteran Steven Spears. “I was ready to go but then Steven approached me and told me that he would score. I could tell by the look in his eyes that he was serious, and really would score”, Adelson recalled.

Since both teams’ players shoot simultaneously, moments after the Buyer Kings scored to potentially tie the game, Steven’s shot beat the goalie low blocker side to seal the victory for the Bullets.

“We are so excited to be in this position right now, but we need to remember to keep our cool because we still have a long way to go before we can really party”, forward Dave Preston said.

Chucky Lea contributed three helpers in this one, setting up both of Mike Ceresney’s goals as well as Shuster’s tying goal. Ceresney now has scored 5 goals in his past 3 games, bringing his total to 13 on the season.

With the victory, as well as a +11 goal differential, the Bullets are almost a lock to make it to the finals. The only way the Bullets can be eliminated is with a loss next week combined with multiple factors involving the other teams facing off against each other.

The Bullets look to finish the round robin on an even higher note next week and guarantee themselves home ice advantage in the finals when they take on The Cronic. Be sure to catch the game - puck drop is at 10:15pm.

ANOTHER BIRTHDAY….GOALTENDER STROLL IS 21

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LEIBTOG

July 24th, 2006

Bullets rookie forward Mark Leibtog is celebrating his 21st birthday today. We at the Bullets official website would like to wish him a Happy Birthday and hope that he will be celebrating many more as a member of the Bullets.

BULLETS MAKE TRUE ON PROMISE

July 19th, 2006

After last weeks 2-1 loss to the same opponent, several Bullets players promised a different team and ultimately a better outcome for this along with the coming weeks as the playoffs take place.

And different they were. From the first faceoff the Bullets were all over the Rottweilers. “Any time those guys touched the puck, we had someone on them”, a beaming Troy Climans, who had four assists, told reporters.

The Bullets fired 27 shots at Steven Sweet, compared to only fifteen by the Rottweilers.

“We came out flying and didn’t let up. It’s the playoffs now”, Chucky Lea told reporters.

The Bullets played a great team game. It was all about the quality of the shots, not the quantity tonight. Over 1/3 of their shots found the back of the net. Four of their goals had the maximum two assists allowed, which goes to show how great their passing was in this one.  

Dustin Stroll recorded his first career shutout for the Bullets, and although wasn’t tested often, made big saves when he had to.

Mike Ceresney and Jordan Roberts both recorded hat tricks, with Ceresney also adding two assists for a whopping five points. Brandon Spears and Mike Adelson also had three points each.

Former Bullet Jeff Rotman ate his words and even praised the Bullets for their effort. “Come on, eight goals after the first? We came out flat footed and they took full advantage of us. We wanted it bad, but they clearly wanted it more, and I always support a team with heart”, he said.

The Bullets can be as happy as they’d like about this victory – but only for tonight. “Come tomorrow, all focus goes into next week’s game. We haven’t faced these guys yet, so we have to work extra hard in practice to ensure our readiness”, coach Marc Lampert told reporters.

Puck drop is once again next Tuesday and 10:00pm.

BULLETS QUALIFY FOR PLAYOFFS EVEN WITH LOSS

July 12th, 2006

Despite finishing the regular season with their lowest win percentage in franchise history, the Bullets have still qualified for the playoffs.

After dropping last night’s regular season finale 2-1 against the Rottweilers, the Bullets finished the season with a 3-7-0 record.

The game, which featured former Bullet Jeff Rotman, was very tight with both teams refusing to give up good scoring chances.

“Both teams wanted to win this game, but were very careful in doing so. I know I wanted us to win so that I could taunt those guys after the game”, Rotman said.

The shots were tied at 15-15, and only three penalties were called all game. One of the penalties, called with 3:46 left in the game, gave the Bullets a fantastic chance at tying the game. “We just didn’t bury it, plain and simple”, forward Mark Leibtog explained. “Half of our total shots in the period came on that powerplay, but stuff like that happens sometimes”, he added.

“Stevie Sweet had a great game”, Captain Brandon Spears said, referring to the Rottweilers goalie, who played a game with the Bullets last season.

Ironically, the outcome of this game now sets up a rematch in the first game of the playoff round robin, and the Bullets are eager to show the Rottweilers that they haven’t seen the team at their peak.

“We will be ready come puck drop next week. I am ready to contribute for this team as hard as ever”, forward Mike Ceresney confidently told reporters.

The rest of the team seemed to echo those comments.

“Get ready to see a whole new – fully prepared – Bullets team”, Mike Adelson said.

The Bullets post season begins next Tuesday at 10:00pm. Be sure to catch the game, or you will be missing out.

Captain Brandon Spears was overheard talking to the team after the game about the playoffs. He told his teammates, “We will win, or die trying”.

BULLETS LOSE A HEARTBREAKER

July 4th, 2006

After playing toe to toe with the highly touted Mooseheads for two and a half periods, a 16 second span where the Bullets allowed two goals cost them the game.

The Bullets were able to carry last week’s strong play into this one, as the team played their best game of the season. All three of the Bullets goals were scored shorthanded which is a very impressive feat.

Mike Adelson scored his fourth goal of the season while Max Shuster was serving a penalty. After the Mooseheads tied the game, Shuster gave the Bullets the lead back when Adelson was serving a penalty of his own. Again, after the opponents tied the game, the Bullets scored shorthanded. This time it was Mark Leibtog’s first career Bullets goal, and it came while Chucky Lea was serving a long penalty in the third period.

Things were looking good for the Bullets after Leibtog scored to put them ahead by a 3-2 margin. However, only nineteen seconds after taking the lead, the Bullets had a meltdown where they allowed two goals.

“We had the momentum all game and we were really keeping up with those guys”, Coach Marc Lampert said. Added forward Hartley Blumenfeld, “As deflating as it was watching our lead not only disappear but falling behind by a goal, we still thought we had a fighting chance to tie it back up again”.

The Bullets played inspired, and put all kinds of pressure on the Mooseheads to try and get that equalizer. But it was just not to be on this night, as time simply ran out on the boys. “It’s unfortunate, but if we continue to play like this, games will start to turn in our favor”, forward Dave Preston said after the game.

The Bullets look to close out the regular season on a high note next week against former Bullet Jeff Rotman and his Rottweilers. Puck drop is at 9:55 pm.