Kraze out

The Central Florida Kraze got their groove back after decimating the Nashville Metros in Nashville July 16. But will a stumble against the Atlanta Blackhawks ruin the Kraze's chances for a playoff run?

The Kraze got off to a great start to their four-game season-ending road trip in Nashville, taking on their most distant rival on its home field and winning big. The scoring started early for the Kraze, using the incredible speed of Jowayne Laidley to outrun and outgun the Metros' defense.

By the half, the Kraze had already sealed the game, and then they cruised to a 3-0 shutout of the Metros, giving keeper Wesley Giachetti his fifth blanking of the season.

That game was a big departure from their midseason games, in which the Kraze had trouble scoring more than a goal.

"We've got great offense but getting the ball in the goal has been our Achilles," Coach Joe Avallone said.

Not anymore. That win vaulted the Kraze upward in the Premier Development League Southeast Division standings, putting them one point above the New Orleans Jesters and the Atlanta Blackhawks.

All the Kraze needed to do to hold onto hope for the playoffs was beat the Blackhawks, whom they faced July 18.

This would be a grudge match between the two teams, who had squared off in the Kraze's third game of the season, and which would be by far the Kraze's highest scoring game. In front of a Showalter Field crowd they won 5-0, with a hyper-aggressive Kraze offense launching 21 shots.

In Atlanta for the rematch, the Kraze would score once but find nothing more in a devastating 2-1 loss to the Blackhawks. The game was tied at 2-2 for a brief moment after goals by Fredrik Brustad and Laidley, but Laidley's tying goal was called back on a widely disputed offsides call.

That offsides call may have had season impacting repercussions, as the Kraze lost the game and the Blackhawks picked up 3 points in the standings. The Mississippi Brilla and Baton Rouge Capitals, tied in first place, and who both won their games last weekend, would have been within striking range had the Kraze won.

As it stands, the Kraze are out of the playoffs, as only the top two teams in the division advance to the postseason. They'll travel to face Mississippi at 8 p.m. July 22, and finish the season at 8 p.m. July 24 in New Orleans.