The first FPHL Wild Card play-in games DID NOT DISAPPOINT! The FPHL office has to be thrilled with everything tonight.

Continental Wild Card Play In Game – Baton Rouge 2, Blue Ridge 5

This was a 3-2 game without the empty netters. And boy this game was fast, it was physical, and fun to watch. A big crowd in Wytheville, 1,483 were REALLY REALLY loud, probably the loudest I’ve ever heard that building. The Bobcats got going early as Mike Mercurio scored to open it up.

But it wasn’t long for the Zydeco to answer, just over five minutes later, Jake Cox tied it. And then as the teams opened up the second, Cox scored again. The Zydeco held a stranglehold on the lead until the third.

With just over ten minutes to go in the game, Denis Radchenko put home a seeing-eye shot past Sammy Bernard. Then Ryo Namiki takes a boarding penalty, on the ensuing Power Play, Daniel Klinecky gives the Bobcats the lead, and they never looked back, and added on two empty netters.

Such an exciting game, the Bobcats will go on to take on the Carolina Thunderbirds, but they most likely be without Hunter Godmere who left the game due to an injury, and it seems pretty severe.

Empire Wild Card Play In Game – Motor City 2, Watertown 4

Meanwhile up in Watertown, the Wolves got out early and stayed in front. Domenic Della Civita started the scoring in the first, and then at the start of the 2nd period, it was Steven Klinck with the goal. But the Rockers responded, Brendan Ronan scored five minutes in, but before the end of the period, Junior Harris made it 3-1.

In the third, the Rockers got one back from TJ Sneath, but it was the insurance goal from Trevor Grasby that locked it up for the Wolves. The Wolves shut down Motor City on the late 5-on-3 to lock it up. Ricardo Gonzalez made 30 saves in the loss.

The Wolves will take on Binghamton in the first round.