Mar 26, 2011 | jhackett | 1005 views
Alliance Playoffs Finals Game #5 @ Hamilton Reps
The Jr. Sting traveled to Hamilton Friday night knowing that only a win would allow them to continue. With Lambton trailing 5 points to 3 in the 6 point series only a win would do. Lambton welcomed back Cade Robbins after missing the last 6 weeks with an “upper body” injury.
The Jr. Sting went to the ice looking confident and wanting to carry the play against the Reps. Lambton had a strong start to the game and carried the play right from the opening face-off.
At 7:12 of the first period Jared Pageau carried the puck down the left wing, drove wide around the Hamilton defenseman and slid a low wrister in the short-side to make it a 1-0 game. The scored stayed that way until mid-way through the second period when Hamilton picked up a loose puck and were able to net the equalizer. Lambton, with the help of the local referees, then got into penalty trouble, going down two men for 1 minute and 40 seconds. Fortunately for the Jr. Sting, the penalty killers were up to the task and after blocking shots and playing very sound style they were able to kill it off.
The second period ended with the score 1-1 and Lambton knew they would have to put on a push in the third to gain the victory and continue the series.
Lambton had to kill off another very questionable call to start the third period but the penalty killers were again up to the task. Lambton was awarded a 5 on 3 power play of their own with just over 10 minutes to go in the third. The Jr. Sting controlled the play and moved the puck around forcing the Reps goalie to make a couple of key saves but Lambton continued to work and when Garrett Miller received a cross-ice pass from his D partner Jacob Williams he was able to walk in to the hash marks and bury a wrist shot low glove to give Lambton the much needed lead. Hamilton got another chance on the power play and the boys continued to sacrifice their bodies to keep the lead.
With a minute to go in the game Hamilton pulled their goalie for the extra attacker but the combination of the Jr. Sting’s goalie Ethan Hunt and the players in front they cleared the puck and did what they had to do to get the win and force a game six back in Sarnia on Saturday to decide the six point series.
Jared Pageau and Garrett Miller each had one goal.
Jack Hackett and Jacob Williams had assists.
Ethan Hunt was very strong in net.