Game # 20
Cobourg Cougars 2 - Lindsay Muskies 4
November 9th, 2007 in Lindsay
Summary
The Muskies took the rubber match of the three consecutive games against Cobourg, led by Ryan Oliver's hat-trick and Richard Nerland's solid goaltending. The Fish never trailed in the game but it was a hard-fought affair throughout. The win, however, moves the Muskies seven points ahead of last placed Cobourg, with two games in hand. The next game will be an equally important one for Lindsay as they face the Quinte West Pack at home - the Pack sit one point ahead on the Fish after they surprised first-placed Peterborough this evening.
Period 1
The two teams played a fairly close first period but the Cougars' tender, Jory Fuller, had to work a lot harder than Richard Nerland as it was the Fish who dominated in terms of scoring chances. They put one of those in to take a one goal lead into the second period. It came on a powerplay at 10:21 and came from a beautifully executed move. Brett Waters sent a hard pass to Kyle Stojsin who was to the side of the net, just behind the goal line. Stojsin in turn passed it back out front to Ryan Oliver four feet outside the top of the crease and he put it in past Fuller. Lindsay deserved the lead but the margin was still a slim one.
Period 2
The Cougars came out with a lot more determination in the second period and got their reward when Patrick Jobb blasted a shot through Nerland to make it 1-1 at 3:53. Cobourg then went looking for the lead but the Muskies were able to keep them out. Chances were still coming at the other end as well, although for quite a while it looked like the Fish would never find the net. But then some aggressive forechecking prevented the Cougars from getting out of their own zone. When Alex Fiset grabbed the puck he forced his way towards goal and forced it behind Fuller to restore Lindsay's lead at 14:38. Kyle Stojsin and Ryan Oliver got the assists for their forechecking efforts.
Period 3
The third period was a hard-fought affair. The Cougars certainly put up a good battle and thought they had equalized when the puck was forced home but referee Sliwowicz was well-placed to see the kick that put it there. But Cobourg weren't to be denied and they scored a legitimate second goal at 10:18 when Jeff Broekema scored a well-worked goal. In days past that might have signalled a Lindsay collapse but tonight they came right back and regained the lead just 23 seconds later. It came from the stick of Ryan Oliver who beat Fuller at the second attempt, with assists going to Kyle Stojsin and Brad Langford. That set up a storming finish to the game with Cobourg really taking the play to Lindsay. But they couldn't beat Nerland and it was the Muskies who found a way to score again. A turnover at the Lindsay blueline won by Alex Charette sent Cam Granger streaking down the right wing. He drew the goalie across and then slipped the puck back to Ryan Oliver who duly completed his hat-trick at 17:07. That should have quieted the nerves of the watching Lindsay faithful but two quick penalties and a pulled goalie saw the Cougars icing six skaters against the Muskies' three. But Nerland and his defence held firm and came closest to scoring when Kyle Stojsin slid an effort just wide of the empty net. In the end the Muskies doubled up the Cougars 4-2 but it could easily have been closer.
Box Score: Click here
Game Sheet: Click here
Photographs
A pass back from Kyle Stojsin to Ryan Oliver sets up the first goal of the game.
After Cobourg make it 1-1, the Muskies try to regain their lead.
They succeed through some great forechecking and it is Alex Fiset that gets the goal.
In the third, another tying goal from the Cougars brings an almost instant response and Ryan Oliver scores again to make it 3-2 to Lindsay.
Cam Granger passes the puck across to Oliver who couldn't miss for his hat-trick.
Richard Nerland had to pull of some good saves in the second and third periods.
As the Cougars tried to make their two man advantage pay off in the final minutes, Brett Waters could usually be found in the thick of the action for Lindsay.