Game # 18
Cobourg Cougars 2 - Lindsay Muskies 1
November 2nd, 2007 in Lindsay
Summary
For the second game in a row the Muskies had reason to feel a little hard done by. Tonight they had the puck in the net as often as their opponents but one effort was waived off without explanation so those who saw the puck in the goal could only wonder why. Having said that, though, the Cougars were a much improved team compared to their last visit to the Rec Complex when everything went right for the Muskies and the Fish scored eight times. Cobourg played well and have clearly bought into a belief that hard work will produce results. Tonight, with an interim coaching staff on the bench and a handful of players either missing or traded, Lindsay couldn't find a way to win. They will try again tomorrow against these same Cobourg Cougars. The loss, combined with Kingston's surprise loss to Quinte West, saw the Muskies drop out of the playoff spots - hopefully temporarily.
Period 1
The Fish started the first period well, exposing several holes in the Cobourg defence. But the closest they came to finding the net was when a shot was partly stopped by goalie Clarke and fluttered off him and onto the goalpost. The Cougars got stronger as the period wore on but only really looked threatening on powerplays. Richard Nerland kept them out, making some impressive stops on pucks that he must have seen very late. It was the Cougars that finally broke the deadlock and it was a fluke goal that did it. A Ryan Masters pointshot hit a stick and looped at least twelve feet in the air. Nerland didn't see it at all - it was most likely lost in the lights - and it curved down and straight into the net behind him. The goal came with only 11 seconds left in the period.
Period 2
The second period started pretty badly for the Muskies as they gave up a second goal at 1:16. Patrick Jobb released what might have been a speculative shot from the boards that handcuffed Nerland and found the back of the net. It was a rare mistake by the Lindsay keeper who otherwise had a very good night. Things didn't really get any better a few minutes later when for the second game running the Muskies clearly had the puck over the goal line, the goal light came on, but after conferring, the officials waived it off, just as they had in the last game in Bowmanville. And once again no explanation was made to the paying crowd as to why the call was made. The middle of the period was clogged up by a series of penalties, and one fight. At 15:33 the Muskies finally got a goal back, and it was a shorthanded effort. Kyle Stojsin chased the puck in on a break away and as he got into the crease the puck came up, bounced off him a couple of times and then he deflected it down through the goalie's five hole with the shaft of his stick.
Period 3
The longer the third period went on, the less it felt like the Muskies were going to be able to rescue this one. It wasn't that they didn't try hard but the game simply had an air of inevitability about it. In fact the Fish could only muster five shots in the entire period as they fell into their old habit of looking for one too many passes instead of applying direct pressure on the other team's goal. The Cougars fought very hard to preserve their lead and when the final buzzer went they celebrated with vigour. Both teams have to do it all again tomorrow in Baltimore (a 4:30pm start) - and then again next Friday back here in Lindsay.
Box Score: Click here
Game Sheet: Click here
Photographs
A fluke goal resulting from a deflection that made the puck look like a basketball shot for three points gave the Cougars the lead.
The Muskies celebrate as the puck just crosses the line but it does not stand - reason unknown.
Aaron Keaney and Mitch Vasey go to work around the crease.
Kyle Stojsin puts the puck in off the shaft of his stick and this time it counts.
Dan Clarke in the Cobourg net made a series of fine saves - but the Muskies didn't test him enough.