In a battle of the last two winless teams, Waterdogs and Chaos took the field looking to build momentum going into the playoffs. Waterdogs entered Saturday afternoon matchup after losing three games by a total of four goals. They had been plagued by long droughts on offense but had also demonstrated their ability to fill up the scoresheet. Chaos had drastically underperformed, entering their last group play game with the worst score differential. With all the firepower on their offense, Chaos has averaged just over seven goals per game while looking out of sorts for much of the tournament.
After a three goal run from Waterdogs, Chaos scored four straight goals that spanned the end of the first and beginning of the second quarter. Zach Currier stopped the bleeding for Waterdogs as he found the back of the net for the first time all series. With the help of childhood teammate Jake Withers, Currier came off an up pick, flipped his hips as he went down the righty alley and put a heater low to high above Riorden’s outstretched arms that sent Riorden to his knees. This goal was the only one Chaos would give up in the quarter as Riorden posted an 82 percent save percentage in the first quarter.
Chaos took a 5-4 lead into the second half even after only winning 20 percent of faceoffs in the first half. Tommy Kelly’s struggles to exit after winning the clamp continues to plague him after posting an 80 percent clamp percentage.
The second half began and it quickly turned into a defensive struggle. Both teams’ defense continued to force low angle shots while both goalies played their angles well and filled up the goal. It took over eight minutes into the third quarter until Curtis Dickson broke the ice with a highlight reel transition goal. With Chaos up two, Waterdogs answered with two goals from Christian Cuccinello and Ben McIntosh to tie the game heading into the fourth.
Throughout the fourth quarter, every time Chaos put one in, Waterdogs answered. However, it was Waterdogs who took the lead with just 1:18 left in the game as Kieran McArdle found Christian Cuccinello open on the crease. With just over 20 seconds in the game, the shot clock ran out on the Waterdogs final possession and they put the ball in their offensive corner. However, after failing to match up in transition, Dhane Smith sliced through the Waterdogs’ defense to even up the game with just six seconds left.
The game headed to overtime and Chaos was awarded possession after a push call at the stripe. After a turnover from Fields as he attempted to feed Miles Thompson on the crease, Zach Currier finished off his hat trick, and the game, as he buried the game winner on a textbook 6v5 fast break.
PLL Betting Breakdown
The Waterdogs (+1.5) once again cover the spread for the third out of four times. With exception to the Whipsnakes who have covered every game easily, the Dogs have become the most reliable team to bet to cover. This time they did it in a form of a win. As for the O/U of 20.5 was one of the lowest totals so far, but the teams still managed to hit the under. The under train just doesn’t stop.
Next Up
With the win, Waterdogs secure a fifth seed in the playoffs and will face Redwoods on Tuesday. Chaos fall to 0-4 and find themselves as the seventh seed. Depending on how the Archers vs Whipsnakes game finishes, Chaos could face either Chrome, Archers, or Whipsnakes.
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