Once more, led by Chester Maltby, Hallstead rallied to the attack. And once more two valiant Parker men, fighting with a frenzy equal to five, met the rush head-on. But both went down under jolting impacts and goalie Bud Gray was left to face the onslaught alone. He was met, however, by a wave of blue-jerseyed men and was pulled to the side on blocking a shot so that the puck was whizzed past him on the rebound.
“Goal disallowed!” shrieked the referee, tearing into the mix-up in front of the net and tapping Chester Maltby on the shoulder. “Penalty box for you,” he signified, “and you...!” referring to the Hallstead right defense. A great clamor went up as the two Hallstead players joined an already crowded penalty box. Out on the ice, Ed and Rudie solemnly shook hands. They were still in the thick of the fight and now the competition was almost even again ... three against two. But Lee and Walt were due back on the ice now, any second, which would swing the advantage in Parker’s favor. And less than two minutes of the regular playing time remained!
A new face-off with Rudie opposing the Hallstead right wing. He managed to get his stick on the puck and hook it away. As he skated to the side with Hallstead players in pursuit, he saw Lee and Walt tumbling out of the penalty box and rushing back into play. Changing his defensive tactics at once, Rudie suddenly raced up the ice toward Hallstead’s goal, leaving two frantic Hallstead men behind him. The third, playing back on defense, took his station in front of the goalie and awaited Rudie’s attack. Lee and Walt, however, were joining Rudie from the side, spanking their sticks on the ice. The puck skimmed across to them and all three swung into formation, sweeping in upon the under-guarded Hallstead goal. Ed to Rudie to Walt was the course the puck took as the trio neared the cage. Rudie was violently body-checked by the lone defense man but Walt was left free to skate in upon the goalie and sent the puck hurtling into the net.
“A goal!” scored the referee.
Hallstead sat thunderstruck; Parker supporters made the air warm with lusty shouts. In another minute a dope bucket would be violently upset. Hoyt Dale now leaned forward in the penalty box, his five minute suspension almost up. In another three seconds he was back on the ice, Parker’s full strength returned, with Hallstead still shy her two regulars.
“No monkey business!” warned Captain Lowery.
“Don’t worry!” a chastened Hoyt assured. “They don’t get me in that penalty box again!”
And the next instant the game was over.
“Rudie, old timer!” cried the fellow who had thought he knew more than the coach. “I take back everything I ever said against you. That defense you put up was simply immense ... and it was me who put you in that hole...!”
“It’s okay now,” said Rudie, as he glanced at the scoreboard.