Game # 22 Peterborough Stars 2 - Lindsay Muskies 4
November 18th, 2007
Summary
It was an unfortunate first return to the Rec Complex for former Lindsay GM and head coach Paul Bedford as the Muskies denied his new Stars team the chance to return to the top of the standings. The win was the first for Coach Meyers and was perhaps the Fish's most significant result so far this season. Matt Ginn had another impressive start in net and the top line of Lacey, Stojsin and Oliver again led the scoring. The Lindsay defence corps als deserve a special mention for the way they battled all afternoon to defend their net.
Period 1
There were no goals in the first period but it was still a good game to watch. Both teams wanted to play hockey, which was highlighted by the fact that there no penalties until the later stages. The game started with both teams looking well-matched but from about the seventh minute on, the Stars seemed to take control. They pressed the Muskies back, and the Fish had to rely on breakaways to relieve the pressure. But the defence was playing very well, with Matt Ginn very solid behind them. When a penalty finally came, it shifted the balance back to even. The call went against the Stars but the Muskies got the puck onto the goal-line but not over it, with referee Hancock in the right spot to call it. The best chance for the Fish came in the final minute when Ryan Oliver got behind the defence but sent his shot high. Justin Lacey, trailing the play, got to the rebound off the glass first but Zac Fryia in net made the save.
Period 2
The second period was the kind of period that the Muskies have often threatened but somehow rarely pulled off. They scored four goals straight before Peterborough found the net once in reply. The first goal came when Aaron Keaney tipped in a point shot from Eric Gethers after just 51 seconds. The second goal was another powerplay marker, with Kyle Stojsin coming in off the left wing and having plenty of time to find the corner of the net at 11:30. It was unassisted. Next up was a great move from Justin Lacey at 14:22 when he took advantage of a poor change by the Stars to cut in from the right, deke the goalie, and bury the puck. with the assist going to Ryan Oliver. Oliver wasn't likely to be kept off the list of goalscorers and he got his reward on the powerplay at 16:27 as he shot from close in, with assists going to Stojsin and Corey George. The Stars had earlier had a great chance to open their account when they had a long two man advantage after the Muskies' first goal, but as it turned out, the best chance to score fell to Justin Lacey shorthanded as he got behind the defence but saw his shot saved by Fryia. Peterborough did finally beat Ginn, however, when Matt Gray was allowed too much room to skate around the net before coming out and shooting from ten feet out.
Period 3
To shake things up, Fryia was replaced by Mathieu Cadieux in the Peterborough net at the start of the final frame. The Muskies started the third on the penalty kill but not only did they keep the Stars off the scoreboard but they also nearly added to their own total with a shorthanded breakaway but Cadieux's first save attempt was successful. The Fish fought hard to defend their lead and only cracked once. The Stars scored at 11:05 when Brad Gehl fired home from the slot, but that was all they were able to manage as the Fish battled away, giving as good as they got in terms of scoring chances. A flurry of penalties in the last few minutes made for a scrappy finish but it never really looked like the Stars would manage to get back on level terms. Their best chance to score came on a breakaway when Ginn was the only line of defence but he pulled off a tremendous save to preserve the two goal lead.
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Game Sheet: Click here
Photographs
Cam Granger goes in close but can't force the puck past Fryia.
Aaron Keaney tips in the Muskies' first goal after Eric Gethers fired the puck in from the point.
Justin Lacey, #27, again looked to be a valuable addition to the Fish.
Stojsin makes it 2-0 from the slot on the powerplay.
Justin Lacey gets his first goal for the Fish to make it 3-0.
And then Ryan Oliver makes it 4-0.
A shorthanded breakaway was saved by Stars' replacement goalie Mathieu Cadieux early in the third period.