-Columbus, Ohio
Today’s game is one that many of the Barons had circled since the playoff brackets were announced. “They’re number one,” Forward Matt Ripley pointed out, “that’s all you need to know.”
True, the Nordiques come in with a daunting resume; 9 goals for a game, 1.6 goals against a game, an unblemished record of 5-0. But the Barons are riding a wave of confidence after their Quarterfinal waxing of the Racers.
“Last game was a flawless effort. Everyone did his or her job,” said Captain Ryan Schwepfinger.
It truly was a herculean effort from the Barons. They took a team that was averaging over six goals a game and completely shut them out, while exploding for 10 goals themselves. Six Barons got in on the action. R. Schwepfinger, Forward Andrew Bickell, Forward Colby MacMillan, and Forward Kristin Sutton all had two goals while both Forward Chris Wilkin and Forward Ben Reinke added goals to the total.
“The goal total was flabbergasting,” commented Ripley, “it truly was amazing to see us fly around the ice like that.
While the euphoria did not last long as the Nordiques loom heavy on the horizon, the Barons definitely feel they can carry this confidence into the Semifinals.
"I would consider us underdogs heading into this game.” Said Forward Josh Samuels. “It's Barons Nation vs. The World right now. The pressure is solely on the Nordiques, they've got the 1 beside their name. All we have to do is go out and play Barons hockey. If we play our game, the rest will take care of itself."
For many Barons, this game is the final step in a long journey just to get to Nationwide Arena. It’s a goal that at one point seemed unreachable, but that has changed.
"I knew we'd be in this spot, I think everyone on the team knew it,” said Goaltender Corey Olson. “Last year, when I watched virtually the same team get so close to winning it all. They [Barons front office] go out and acquired these promising rookies like Andy [Schwepfinger], Colby [MacMillan] and Josh [Samuels] as well getting people who've won shirts like myself and Joey Balla to help us win it all. It really shows how important winning the championship is to them and their fans. In the game on Tuesday, our big guys will have to step up and most importantly we just have to stay relaxed and play our game."
The Barons are so close to achieving that eternal dream of winning the shirt, and they can get one step closer tonight v. the Nordiques at 12:15 am at the OSU Ice Rink.
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