MVCHA: Tigers crush Maroons, 9-0

EAST ALTON, Jan 25, 2013 (The Telegraph - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- With a 15-1 record and first place in the North Division clinched long ago, you'd think Edwardsville coach Jason Walker might lighten his grip on the throttle with two regular season games remaining.

Not so Thursday against Belleville West. And especially since his Tigers were coming off their only loss of the season, a 5-2 setback Tuesday against O'Fallon.

Edwardsville shook off a lackluster first period and went on to blank West 9-0 in an MVCHA Class 2A game at the East Alton Ice Arena.

"Now isn't the time to coast," Walker said. "We needed to come out and play our game and I think we did a good job of that." The Tigers' game Thursday included an overwhelming advantage in puck possession and a truckload of shots against the Maroons -- 53, to be exact, to just 9 shots for the Maroons.

"We were really happy with so much zone time," Walker said about his team's ability to control the puck and string passes together.

"That's also the best way to play defense," Walker said. "As long as you have the puck." The Tigers led just 1-0 after the first period on a late goal by Dave Mooshegian. But they exploded in the second and had the game well in hand by the end of the period.

Edwardsville outshot West 22-1 in the second period and scored five goals.

Leo Blandina got the second period scoring started with a goal at 11:16. That was followed by two goals each from Marshall Gevers and Jon Weisner.

In the third period, Blandina scored at 9:01 to make it 7-0 and start a running clock. He scored again on a power play at 4:45 and Gevers finished the scoring with a goal with 1:46 remaining in the third period.

The Tigers have just a game with Belleville East next Monday remaining in their regular season. And following the Class 1A and Class 2A All-Star games Monday and Tuesday in East Alton, the postseason playoffs will get under way.

The North Division champion and defending 2A MVCHA champion Tigers will open the postseason against Marquette Catholic, last season's Class 1A champion, which was moved up to 2A this season.

"We have a couple players down with injuries, but we're hoping to get at least one of them back," Walker said. "We'll have to play regardless, and tonight was a good way to help get us ready." EDWARDSVILLE 9, BELLEVILLE WEST 0 West 0 0 0 -- 0 Edwardsville 1 5 3 -- 9 First Period E -- Mooshergian (Fleck) 1:25 Second Period E -- Blandina (Weisner, Lewis) 11:16 E -- Gevers (Weisner, Johnson) 8:37 E -- Weisner (Gevers, Johnson) 5:55 E -- Weisner (unassisted) 5:02 E -- Gevers (Warta) 1:57 Third Period E -- Blandina (Lewis) 9:01 E -- Blandina (Warren, Lewis) pp 4:45 E -- Gevers (Johnson, Weisner) 1:46 Statistics Shots: Edwardsville 53, Belleville West 9. Penalties: Edwardsville 1, West 1.

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