Nordiques fall in playoffs Published Aug. 23, 2010 By John Stuart Staff Writer Tinker Public Affairs -- Though it's a bitter pill to swallow, victory was never really in the Nordiques grasp in what was the first round of summer league playoffs Sunday. With a bursting stable of skaters, it seemed the Tinker Division Two team was primed for a win in the Aug. 15 matchup with the Warriors. But what started as a mostly one-sided affair ended in similar fashion, thanks to the Warriors spry and speedy lineup, consisting of several Division One-caliber players. Despite the Nordiques efforts they fell 5-2, closing out their summer league with a final record of 4-7-4. It was a salty go of things from the start, with numerous shots on goal for both teams and a fast-paced tempo. With the Nordiques at the speed disadvantage, they took the game plan of frequent line changes, cycling through their copious bench-side corps. But the Warriors realized their advantage and kept their blitzing game plan up throughout the game. The Warriors got on the board early in the first period. With only two minutes expired from the puck drop, they scored their first goal. Both teams would hold each other to a stalemate the rest of the period. Bryson Harley answered back in the second period, on a compelling break-away goal at 9:54. The Nordiques were down a player during Harley's score, with defenseman Louie Lomanaco in the penalty box. The score tied things up, but that's the closest the Nordiques would get to tasting victory. The Warriors answered back with two quick blows, with a goal at 3:55 and, with the Nordiques offering the other cheek, a goal at 2:47. The third period was an offensive explosion in the making for Tinker. All the components were in place, all that was missing was the fuse. But no one could light the powder keg. Two times the Nordiques had a five on three advantage and failed to capitalize, even giving up a careless goal as a Warriors forward slipped off the penalty bench, grabbed the biscuit and marched in for a one-on-one tea time with the Nordiques goalie. Tinker standout Shayne Carroll briefly hinted at igniting the magic, with his solo goal from near the center of the blue line with 6:56 to play. But in the last minute it came down to a six on five rush with the Nordiques pulling their goalie, hoping for a flourish of offensive glory. The Warriors had other plans, however, as they tacked on their final point with an open-net break away to close out the game and the season for the Nordiques. "We started slow," said captain Jim Behn. "Our major problem was line changes. We just got beaten by a faster, younger team. But the guys gave it their all." The Nordiques will be back in the fall, but will likely be doing some restructuring, Behn said, as some players are deploying and others shifting teams. The Tinker skaters will return to the ice in several weeks at the start of fall league play.