Game # 21
Quinte West Pack 4 - Lindsay Muskies 3 OT
November 16th, 2007 in Lindsay
Summary
The Muskies lost to the Quinte West Pack for the first time this season in a game that was hard to get a handle on. The Fish played quite well at times but often seemed to be fighting the puck as it rolled off or hopped over their sticks way too often. They certainly paid the price for the penalties they took, with three of Quinte West's goals coming with the man advantage. This was Coach Meyers' first game and it certainly gave him a good look at the task ahead. It was also the first game for Justin Lacey, recently acquired from the Georgetown Raiders. He marked his debut by scoring a point on his second shift and looked to be a promising addition. Ryan Oliver continued his hot streak by adding another two goals to his total. The Pack worked very hard for their win, keeping things simple and taking their chances on the powerplay, and have clearly improved since they were thrashed 7-2 on their last visit to the Rec Complex.
Period 1
Quinte West were the first team to score and it came on an early powerplay chance. It was timed at 2:36 and was scored by William McLaughlin.  It didn't take long for the Muskies to respond, however, and it was newcomer Justin Lacey who set it up with a neat pass from behind the goal out to Ryan Oliver who buried it behind Tanner in the Pack goal. The goal came at 4:10 and was also assisted by Brett Waters. After theat both teams had chances to score, especially when each club enjoyed a lengthy two man advantage, but the score remained knotted at ones at the first buzzer.
Period 2
The second period was frustrating for the Muskies. They looked like they were going to take control but then gave up two goals. The first was another powerplay effort that was redirected in at 4:42. The last touch by Jeff Nickerson meant Richard Nerland had no chance to react in time. The second goal came at 12:46 when the Muskies' defence dealt well with the puck-carrier but after knocking him down the puck itself was left for Zach McGillis to put it in the corner. In between, Kyle Stojsin had a fine chance to add to the Muskies's total when he got through on a breakaway and was given lots of net to aim for by Tanner but his shot went just wide. But at the other end, Nerland twice had to deny the Pack when they, too, engineered breakaways.
Period 3
It took until the final six and a half minutes of the game until the Muskies found a way back into it. The breakthrough came on a powerplay when the Fish finally got something going. Kyle Stojsin and Corey George combined to fire the puck on target and although Tanner got in the way, Ryan Oliver was there to swipe in the rebound at 13:41. This seemed to shift the momentum in favour of the home team and it was no real surprise when they tied the game at 14:48. Some excellent work in the corner by Aaron Keaney led to his pass out to Cam Granger who came in trailing the play and he blasted the puck past Tanner. When this was followed soon after by another penalty to Quinte West, it seemed likely the Muskies would complete the comeback by taking the lead. But they just couldn't generate any clearcut chances and the opportunity went. Then in the final minute it was Lindsay's turn to sweat as captain Corey George was sent to the sin bin for interference with just 55 seconds left in the period. Nevertheless the Fish nearly won it as Stojsin had a shorthanded breakaway that he would bury more often than not, but this time Jordan Tanner stood his ground and blocked the shot. With the puck seemingly corralled behind the Pack's net, it looked like there might not be any chances left before the buzzer but Quinte West made a textbook breakout which ended with a player left one on one with Nerland but his shot went over the bar with less than a second left in the game, ensuring the Fish at least a point.
Overtime
The fact that there was still a minute left of George's minor as overtime began was to prove to be Lindsay's undoing. With play now reduced to four on three, there was plenty of room for the Pack's efficient powerplay unit to go to work and the game ended when Adam Vandertoorn blasted home the kind of shot that had been lacking for the Muskies' offence this evening. There was 59 seconds gone in the extra period, and only six more seconds of penalty to kill.
Box Score: Click here
Game Sheet: Click here
Photographs
Ryan Oliver goes down but his shot has Jordan Tanner well beaten.
This time Tanner wins at a stretch.
On a Quinte West 5 on 3 powerplay, Richard Nerland has to peer around Brett Waters to watch Alex Charette close down his man.
In the second, Ryan Oliver doesn't miss by much.
After Oliver makes it 2-3 with a little over six minutes to go, newcomer Justin Lacey, #27, heads off to celebrate with the scorer.
Soon after that, Cam Granger is celebrating making things even at 3-3.
Tanner is down but he has just denied Kyle Stojsin on a shorthanded breakaway with 20 seconds left.