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After extensive contract negotiations, the Mighty Pirates organization is extremely pleased to welcome back Howie for another season of insightful, amusing, and extremely addictive commentary! Yes, Howie tells it like it is!

You'll find links to each and every Howie Report right here after each game.

The "Howie-Les" Report: Nemesis No More!
2015-02-02: Mighty Pirates 5 vs. Nemesis IV 4

Division scoring leaders, the Durani Brothers, were popping goals like teenagers pop zits, but it wasn't enough for Nemesis IV (6-13-0) to overcome the balanced scoring attack of the Mighty Pirates (8-7-4) on Monday night.

The Pirates nearly iced a full three-line roster, but "Coach" Jezioranski was scratched at game-time when he ran into equipment problems. Yes, it was a Pirate first... forgetting your whole hockey bag!

Nemesis IV, who dressed a mere 11 skaters, made the best of an early Pirate power-play by stealing the puck and generating a two-on-one. A fake pass rolled up the Sturgeonator's shoulder and found its way into the net. Then, two minutes later, Nemesis made it 0-2 as they buzzed frantically in deep. It was looking like it could be a long night.

Thankfully, your heroes responded swiftly. Gallivan whizzed a shot from the slot over the net. But, as it bounced down off the back glass, Leggett swooped in to pick up the pick behind the net, and slide a gorgeous pass to Sousa, expertly parked at the side of the net. He made no mistake with the one-timer, and it was now 1-2 just 13 seconds after the previous goal.

The storied clubs continued exchanging chances, however both goalies stood tall as the game hit the midway point. Captain Mola, who missed three games with a pinched nerve in his neck, was held pointless... but, he did not disappoint the crowd. He dangled the puck like a rookie, knotting the Nemesis forecheckers up as he moved them in and out and in again with blinding speed.

Then, a J. Klein rush nearly caught Nemesis off guard, and Sousa slid the puck to Gallivan covering on the point. His blast was tipped, then corralled, by J. Klein in the slot, and he moved around the sprawling 'keep to deposit the puck and even the score.

Just 55 seconds later, proud papa L. Klein took a rocket of a shot via a sweet R. Kwinter pass, but it somehow failed to result in a goal; nonetheless, he would steal the puck along the boards and fire a hard pass to Mutch in the slot. Mutch tapped the puck out of the air, and then again down under the goalie for the Pirates' first lead of the game. 3-2!

Everyone felt the Bucs could get more, yet some lacklustre back-checking, as the second period wound down, saw the teams in a 3-3 deadlock. This one was going down to the wire.

Perhaps with more legs on the bench, you could feel the Pirates winning a few more pucks races and pressuring their rivals as the game wore on; but, it still felt like things could swing either way as the clock ticked down.

Finally, with 6:23 to go, great defensive work from R. Kwinter allowed J. Klein to clear the zone and hit Mutch with a breakaway pass. With the bench standing, he would make no mistake on his clinical deke, and the Pirates regained the lead. It was R. Kwinter's team-leading 10th assist.

Under two minutes later, Besant worked his "Orr" magic, scoring his career-best sixth goal of the season for a 5-3 lead with assists to M. Sager and D. Turner.

Yet, as it is with arch-rivals... it ain't over 'til it's over! Nemesis IV would strike with 1:46 to go (Besant claims he let them score so he could get the game-winner) and pull their goalie in the dying seconds. You know they talked about extending the Pirates' winless streak in the dressing room! Those last seconds seemed to take an hour to play, but your heroes would eventually fend off the attack and get back to their winning ways!

Nemesis no more! After crushing the dreams of scores of Pirate fans in last year's championship series, there is little chance we will see Nemesis IV again this season. Ironically, it was one of the most fun games this year. I suppose it's a Bitter Sweet Symphony, this life?