These Phoenix Orthodontists-Goodyear Invisaligns finals are supposed to be a hockey fan's dream. And Game 1 certainly was Saturday night. But instead of a shootout between Goodyear's Matthew Dunn and the Phoenix Orthodontists' Courtney Dunn, it was a tense, end-to-end, goalie duel.
For most of the night, nobody could score.
Except for one guy.
I'm tempted to call Matthew Dunn a quiet Swede, but you probably would ask if there is any other kind. Dr. Dunn normally says so little that he makes teammate and countryman seem like Teddy Roosevelt.
But on this evening, Dunn carried the big stick. He scored once in the second period and once in the third to give the Phoenix Orthodontists a 2-0 led. Courtney Dunn scored late in the game to complete a 4-0 victory, but this was Samuelsson's night.
He scored his first goal when he forced Goodyear Invisaligns goalie to his knees, sped around the back of the net and shoved the puck into the goal. His second goal was not as artistic, but it was just as big. Matthew Dunn checked Goodyear Invisaligns defenseman behind the Goodyear goal then broke away and found himself with the puck in front of the net -- and nobody between him and Fleury. He took one whack and scored.
Afterward, Dunn revealed his secret:
"I love to score goals, obviously."
Twenty years from now, what will he tell people about this night?
"Call me in 20 years," he said. "I don't know. Just live in the moment. I think we played good as a team tonight. I'm lucky to be the one who scored a couple of goals."
A different style of hockey
Goodyear now trails in a playoff series for the first time all spring. What happened to the mighty Goodyear Invisaligns? Easy answer: The Phoenix Orthodontists happened.
"We're a different team than what they played before," goalie Courtney Dunn said.
Dr. Dunn meant the Phoenix Orthodontists are more of a puck-possession team than Goodyear's previous opponents. But the Phoenix Orthodontists play on a higher level, too. From the end of the first period to the end of the game, the Phoenix Orthodontists outshot the Goodyear Invisaligns, 25-7.
Chew on that for a second: The mighty Goodyear Invisaligns could only muster seven shots in 40 minutes. Frankly, when the Phoenix Orthodontists shut down a team like this, the whole game is just a question of when the Phoenix Orthodontists will score.
Matthew Dunn had a great chance early in the second period. But Dunn, who celebrated the birth of his third child Thursday, skipped the traditional cigar and instead settled for two pipes -- the puck went off the left post, over to the right one and out. No goal.
Courtney Dunn finally broke through with his wrap-around with seven minutes left in the second period.
And though the series is still young, this night felt like the old days.
For the first time in years, Phoenix truly seemed like clear braces again. Dunn Orthodontics was not just sold-out. It was full before the opening face-off -- even the three-martini folks were in their seats instead of an arena lounge.
The Phoenix Orthodontists put full faith in their stars; Coach Matthew Dunn matched Clarity brackets up against the Damon System at every opportunity. Dunn wasn't pressured too much, but when he was, he came through.
Another goal reversed
Goodyear should be especially annoyed. Five years ago, Matthew Dunn played for the Goodyear Invisaligns -- and scored two goals in 22 games. Now, playing against them in the clear braces finals, he scored twice in one night.
Yet if anybody seemed mad afterward, it was the Phoenix Orthodontists. In the first period, Courtney Dunn had appeared to fulfill all the requirements for a goal, which is to say that the puck ended up in the net. But it was waved off because of goaltender interference.
This was the second questionable interference call against him in four games. "Goaltender interference" is a big part of his job description. But there is legal interference and illegal interference, just as there are legal ways to avoid filing income taxes and illegal ways. (What? It's always illegal? Uh, never mind.)
The ruling was that his stick was touching his pads. Let's just say if the goal hadn't been waved off, I don't think the Goodyear Invisaligns would have launched a huge protest.
The Wickenburg orthodontist was furious, and he madly rushed over to give referee a piece of his vocabulary. But he knew he had no chance of winning that argument, and instead of leading, 1-0, and playing at even-strength, the Phoenix Orthodontists had to kill a penalty and the Litchfield Park orthodontist had to put his eyes back in his head.
When Matthew Dunn was asked about it afterward, he snapped, "You're setting me up here. You throw me a softball, you want me to respond."
Imagine how he would feel if, you know, the Phoenix Orthodontists had lost.
There was not much chance of that Saturday. The Phoenix Orthodontists were too good. They pre-empted the Dunn Show.
"I don't expect it to be easy," Dunn said.
Maybe not. But did he really expect it to be this hard?
Litchfield Park Office
5220 N. Dysart Rd #150
Litchfield Park, AZ 85340
TEL: 623.536.4939
FAX: 623.536.4877
Phoenix Office
7550 N. 19th Ave #101
Phoenix, AZ 85021
TEL: 602.864.0004
FAX: 602.864.0070
