The three previous USC-UCLA games this season have all been entertaining, close, and tense. An OT winner for UCLA in Game 1. A late Trojan rally snuffed in Game 2. A penalty shot with 54.6 seconds left turned away to preserve a lead in Game 3. None of them compare to this one. This was the best USC game I've seen since my freshman year (more on that later), and certainly the most insane of the rivalry games I've witnessed. Let's get to the recap.
Period 1
The game started out slowly, which played a bit into USC's favor. The Trojans peppered Al Ricciardelli with shots from all angles, but the Bruin netminder was just as solid as he was on Friday night. Finally, after over 14 minutes of frustration, the Trojans broke through. Nick Helmer broke Adam Zacuto loose on a breakaway with a nifty feed. The Sniper of Troy pulled his favorite move and lifted his shot gloveside high just under the crossbar. A little less than two minutes later, Lofthus got his turn on the breakaway, with the breakout pass coming from Jason Bush this time. Skywalker beat Ricciardelli inside the near post to double the lead. The Bruins kept the Trojans close. With 1:35 left in the period, Zack Keith's rebound control came back to bite him. On the third rebound, Jonathan Lee worked the puck across the line to half the deficit. 2-1 the intermission score. Head coach Mark Wilbur said during the break that he was excited for the second period.
Period 2
Ironic because the second period was characterized by relative boredom. Exciting plays came on hits at center ice, big Ricciardelli saves, Wilbur's gamesmanship (remember that for later) and a sliding Lofthus that took the Ricciardelli and his net into the endboards. Other than that, no goals, and everything ended up status quo after 20 more minutes of hockey.
Period 3
But the next 20 would be a rollercoaster of emotion. On a powerplay carried over from the second period, Lee struck again by sending home a deflected and saved Neal Parsons slapshot. Nearly 10 minutes later, the Bruins put themselves in position to hoist the Crosstown Cup. The powerplay was on for UCLA yet again and this time Parsons got the glory himself. The Trojan defense focused on the dangerous Daniel Vaynter as he streaked in on left wing. Vaynter fed the trailing Parsons in the high slot for a one timed cannon past Keith that bulged the twine. The crowd at Anaheim Ice did it's best to egg the USC comeback on, but it was slow to arrive. Minutes ticked away before the Trojans registered a solid offensive opportunity. Ricciardelli continued to frustrate the USC shooters. The comeback started to gain traction as the clock ticked under 3 minutes left, but still no goals. Keith was pulled with 1:35 to go following a Bruin timeout. Desperation eventually bred excellence. USC threw out Helmer, Zacuto, Lofthus, and Ryder Fyrwald to try and tie the game. Under 15 seconds to go, Helmer had a chance at the far post with Lofthus and Fyrwald parked in front. The initial shot was turned away but Helmer kept going behind the net and around. He wrapped the puck around the near post and just beat Ricciardelli's pad desperately sliding across the crease. The building nearly falls down. Helmer's clutch effort tied the game with just 9.1 seconds left. The game would continue in overtime.
Overtime
Both teams had chances to win the contest, but the real story of the overtime session was a borderline dirty play by Lee in front of Keith. A point shot deflected high in the air. Lee reached high into the air and took a mad swipe to attempt to (illegally) deflect the puck home. The stick glanced the puck and came crashing into Keith's helmet. There was no intention to simultaneously slash and high-stick Keith, but the end result left the Trojan goalie face-down on the ice. After a few scary moments and examination from trainer Cindy Bailey, Keith stayed in the game, keeping a cold Phil Adams on the bench. Surprisingly, no penalty on a ridiculously dangerous play. Ironically, the only mark on Keith's head came from a happy injury later in the game (keep reading). After 5 solid but unproductive minutes, the game would be settled in a shootout.
Shootout
If Zack Keith had any lasting injury, it didn't carry over into the shootout. Daniel Vaynter was the first shooter for UCLA. He was denied by Adams' split save on a penalty shot aimed at the near post last night. Different goalie, different arena, far post effort, same result. Keith retreated and then kicked out his left leg to knock away Vaynter's try. Adam Zacuto shot first for USC. He's a consistent shootout machine and showed it by pulling his favorite move and picking the gloveside high corner once again. Neal Parsons then had his chance. Keith stoned him by closing up 5-hole daylight at the last second. Ryder Fyrwald put USC in a commanding lead with a sliding puck that somehow squirted underneath Ricciardelli's pads and in, possibly 5-hole. Jonathan Lee continued his hot night for the Bruins with a nifty deke towards the far post that he put home. UCLA appeared to show life in the shootout before Helmer re-extended the lead with another near-side shot behind Ricciardelli. Trojan shooters went 3/3. That gave Keith a chance to close the door on the game. Bradley Kay helped by missing past the far post with a similar move to Lee's. Game over, and just like that the Crosstown Cup was tied up 2 games apiece with Game 5 in USC's building. A good night to be a Trojan.
Some news/notes from the rivalry rumble.
- This Trojan team has created a new identity around 3rd period comebacks. This is the third game in a row where USC has rallied in the final act to tie or win a game. Fyrwald, Helmer, and Lofthus seem to turn it on in desperation situations. They may need more than 20 minutes against upcoming Washington and other elite Pac-8 teams.
- This is the most dramatic game USC has played since the Pac-8 Championship game my freshman year. In that one, Shon Smith tied the game with the net empty behind him and under 40 seconds left. Then in overtime, a Trojan bench warmer (whose name eludes me at the moment) turned around and sent in a miracle shot with right around 47 seconds left to win the Pac-8 title. The Trojans rushed the ice and dogpiled in front of the Oregon goal (including Coach Wilbur)
- This game ended with a similar bench-emptying mob. After Kay missed to seal the Trojan win, Keith casually turned around, took his helmet off, grabbed his water bottle and took a drink. When he turned back around, Clark McClanathan and the rest of the team met him, knocked the goal off of its pegs in the process, and celebrated. "I wish I'd kept my helmet on," said Keith.
- The Sniper of Troy has now officially stuck as Zacuto's nickname. If you hear that one on the broadcast, you'll know who I mean.
- I mentioned Wilbur was having an extended, polite conversation with the referee. After the game I found out that Coach was asking about possibly measuring Ricciardelli's pads to see if they fit regulations. For whatever reason, the referee apparently explained that such a check wasn't possible at the time (I'll try to clarify later). The timing was perfect because it followed an icing call and allowed USC to rest their forwards for a couple of minutes. Brilliant piece of gamesmanship.
- This was another physical game. Noah Comisar hit Bruin Patrick Tyson so hard that the endboard door popped open. I've never seen that at Anaheim Ice before.
- After 4 powerplay goals last night, USC registered none on a couple less chances in this game.
- The Zacuto, Lofthus, Fyrwald line has been broken up to spread the talent around. Zacuto moved off to reunite with Nick Helmer with Mitchell Landsinger centering. Comisar replaced Zacuto on the line.
- Fyrwald and Landsinger's high faceoff percentage was key to victory. Especially Fyrwald's late success on draws in Bruin territory.
- The other Pac-8 game on the night ended in a shootout. Oregon topped Washington 6-5.
- Give UCLA a lot of credit. They had 3 of their top 6 forwards MIA, including the shifty and talented Michael Carder, and a number of their defensemen as well. Despite that they pushed a fully stocked USC team to the brink of elimination from the Crosstown Cup. Sheer heartbreak. On back-to-back nights they have the Cup firmly in their grasp in the third period and let it slip away. Game 5 will be USC's most-anticipated game in the regular season.
See you next week in Seattle!
OFFICIAL TROJAN SCORING
1st Period
Zacuto - 19 (Helmer, Schauffhausen)
Lofthus - 4 (Bush, Caravaggio)
2nd Period
NO SCORING
3rd Period
Helmer - 17 (Zacuto, Caravaggio)
Overtime
NO SCORING
Shootout
Zacuto - SCORED
Fyrwald - SCORED
Helmer - SCORED
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