On Saturday in Goderich, an oft repeated observation rang true. The playoffs are a brand new season.
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On Saturday in Goderich, an oft repeated observation rang true. The playoffs are a brand new season. A sage prediction also came true - the Spits can't be taken lightly! After some early end to end action, the Spits got a flukey first goal when a partially blocked shot changed direction to beat Cian Patterson-March. Windsor also got the first power play opportunity when Colt Pickett was sent off for interference. This five on four advantage was negated 18 seconds short of two minutes and provided the Lakers with 1:42 of man advantage. Skating over the blue line with the puck, Jake Ringuette unleashed a huge snapshot. The puck had eyes for the right side of the net but was caught by a very quick Spits' goalie. Before the period ended, a Windsor player was left unattended in front of Patterson-March..... 2-0.
Early in the second period, Jesse DeGroote expertly defused a dangerous two on one situation, but despite #20 sliding on his chest to block the pass, the puck's momentum almost caused it to roll up and over the prone Lakers goaltender. Five minutes into the period, the Lakers began pouring it on. Bracing to take a hit in the neutral zone, Shawn Moore chipped the puck to streaking Ray Huether who crossed the blue line and managed a hard shot on net. On the next shift, Ty Bilcke snapped one off the crossbar. Brady Wiffen took a hard hit in the left corner but kept his teammates in possession of the puck. It wasn't pretty but Ryan Watson and Jake Ringuette kept battling until the puck reached Brandon Priestap's stick in front of the net...2-1. On a power play, Ray Huether squeezed along the boards past two checkers before firing a perfect centering pass to Scott Coghlin whose one timer was blocked by a sliding Spits' goalie.
This save by a very hot Windsor goalie prevented the score being tied at two apiece. A 3-2 goal by Ryan Watson, assisted by Ty Bilcke and Jake Ringuette, brought the Lakers again within one. Rushing in for a pass from Bilcke behind the net, Watson reached across on his backhand and somehow managed to take control of the puck and bury it before the goalie could regain position. The Lakers kept pressing but just fell short of tying it up. Two points for the Spits.
AWAY
The Sunday night second game of the quarter-final series in Windsor was a very even affair but the Lakers were on a mission. Stepping on the ice for the warm-up, wearing their McGregor tartan armbands, it was obvious that this game was being played for friend and teammate Tyler McGregor.
Two twenty-three into the first period the Lakers went on the power play and quickly gained possession in the Spitfires' zone. When Scott Coghlin moved the puck to Jake Ringuette, #7 wasted no time getting the big shot away while Shawn Moore moved into position in the slot. A rebound came Moore's way and he put it where Grandpa keeps the good stuff - top shelf, over the goalie's shoulder and underneath the crossbar. This goal required only 13 seconds of the power play. For the first time in the series the Lakers had the lead but this game was far from over. Between the 3:59 and 10:49 mark of the first period the Lakers took 4 minor penalties. Drew Reinhart responded with flawless play between the pipes with support from penalty killers such as Scott Coghlin, Jake Ringuette, David Sproat, Brady Wiffen - to name a few. Windsor's Tyler Payne took the first of his two penalties at the end of the first period by taking the feet out from underneath Jesse DeGroote. #20 crashed to the ice in the corner and was a little slow to get up. Unfortunately, the Lakers couldn’t capitalize on the power play which continued until early in the second period.
In the second period the action was end to end with both teams creating excellent scoring opportunities. The game was turning into a goalie duel with Reinhardt and Windsor's Kenney both making key saves to keep it close. Both teams took turns getting penalties but neither could take advantage of the power play. After two periods the score remained Lakers 1 - Spitfires 0.
The third period was wide open but with neither team willing to give up a whole lot of open ice. There were no goals scored and no penalties taken. As in the second period, goaltending was key, but the McGregor armbands made the difference, providing the Laker players with the resolve they needed to win this one for #17!! Shots on goal, Lakers 24 - Spitfires 22. Reinhardt shutout. Final score 1- 0. The best of 5 series is now Ty(ler)ed at one win each.
Article by: Paul Sproat