Hackers Finally Beat Sabres, More Importantly Clin

After the LAN Hackers got off to a mediocre start to the season, many fans wrote off them off and jumped on the Lynx and Lite-Sabres' bandwagons. But slowly but surely, the LAN Hackers have improved over the season. That improvement was evident Tuesday night as the much improved Hackers faced off against the suddenly beatable Lite-Sabres.

With a win the Hackers could clinch second place overall, ensuring a bye into the semi-finals. The Lite-Sabres, on the other hand, were trying to become only the second team in history to finish 10-0.

The Hackers got off to an early lead when John Price banged home a Glen MacCullough centering pass. The Hackers continued to apply the pressure on the league's top defensive team, before Mike Sullivan finally replied for the Lite-Sabres, tying the game at one. The Lite-Sabres built on that goal, scoring the final three goals of the period and seemed well on their way to a perfect season.

But the Hackers, knowing they needed at least a tie to secure second place, fought for their lives in the second period. Goals by ex-Sabres MacCullough and Virag Pandya brought the Hackers to within 2 goals at 5-3 before Hacker sniper Spiro Bokolas lit the lamp at the end of the second period, closing the gap to one.

The Hackers could smell blood in the third period, as the Sabres seemed more vulnerable than they have all season. Pandya and Terry Davison gave the Hackers the lead midway through the period. The Sabres' offensive, only the third best in the league, seemed confused and frustrated, just managing 8 third period shots. But a Dave MacKenzie shot tied the game at 6 shortly after Davison's go-ahead goal.

With the game tied and time running out, the Hackers turned to none other than John Price. Shortly after Price was stoned on a breakaway, Price fought back to win the ball and beat Sabre netminder Chris McMaster on a wraparound. Time expired before the Sabres mounted another charge, making the final score 7-6 Hackers.

Both teams will not play for two and a half weeks, due their early game this week and their byes next week.