Game # 26 Kingston Voyageurs 6 - Lindsay Muskies 4
November 30th, 2007 in Lindsay
Summary
The Muskies again had trouble converting the chances they were creating into goals this evening while the visiting Vees had no such problem. As in so many of the other games against Kingston this season, that was the difference between the two clubs. Richard Nerland had a rare off-night as he allowed five goals on only 13 shots coming his way, and he was replaced by Matt Ginn for the last twenty five minutes. Justin Lacey had three points for the Muskies this evening, including two goals, and he often looked to be one of the best players on the ice.
Period 1
The Muskies played some good hockey in the opening period but fell behind by three goals to one, partly because they took too many penalties - and they frequently did so in bunches. Kingston struck first at 3:01 through Ben Munroe when the Vees cut in from the right wing and put a precise shot behind Nerland. The Muskies then found themselves two men short for the first time, but on this occasion they survived, partly due to Kingston being called for a minor of their own. This ultimately led to a span of four on four hockey - and that was when the Fish tied the score. A super shot from Justin Lacey beat Mackenzie Ball hands down at 7:45, with Corey George getting the lone assist. A 1-1 scoreline didn't flatter Lindsay but it was a score they couldn't hold on to. The Vees scored again, with them making it 1-2 at 11:25, courtesy of Vick Schleuter. The Fish then took two more minors 12 seconds apart, and giving Kingston that big an advantage is a huge mistake. They promptly increased their lead at 17:59 with Mitch Latchford the goalscorer this time.
Period 2
There was a feeling around that the Muskies had a good chance of getting back into this game, and when Justin Lacey got his second after only 54 seconds, those feelings seemed justified. He swept home the puck as he finished off a nice move involving Kyle Stojsin and Brett Waters. But Richard Nerland, who has kept the team in many a game this season, wasn't having a good night by his high standards and the Vees put two more past him as rebounds were severely punished. The scorers for Kingston were Shawn Kavanagh at 10:25 and Mike Moreau at 14:50.  After the second of these, Richard Nerland made way for Matt Ginn in net. The Muskies spent 70% of the period pressuring the Kingston goal but couldn't make any more chances turn into goals. Down 5-2, the score didn't reflect the way the two periods had been played but it did reflect the more lethal nature of Kingston's forwards.
Period 3
It wasn’t much different in the final period as the Muskies spent plenty of time pushing their guests back into their own zone but until the final minute they didn’t find a way to break through. By then a scrappy goal by Jordan Mayer at 10:08 had increased the scoreline to 6-2 in favour of the Voyageurs. Perhaps the Fish were guilty of being too elaborate in their play, and maybe they were just trying a bit too hard. Certainly once the game was out of reach they seemed to step a notch. When Kingston took two late penalties, the Muskies finally tried a more direct approach by launching some hard shots from the point, and on both powerplays the tactic paid off. First a blast from Alex Charette went straight in at 19:14, with assists going to Justin Lacey (giving him his third point) and Cam Granger. Then another Charette hammer was tipped in by Kyle Stojsin at 19:52, with Ryan Oliver also picking up a point on the play. Often two late goals by a team trailing by four would result in a closer scoreline than they really deserved, but tonight they made the score a little more reflective of the way the game had been played.
Box Score: Click here
Game Sheet: Click here
Photographs
The Muskies go to work in the Kingston zone.
Justin Lacey's fine shot makes it 1-1 in the first period.
Recent signing Jeff Bayley, #15, and Cam Granger, provide some traffic in front of Ball.
Lacey celebrates his second in the middle frame.
Justin Lacey watches as the puck goes around the boards.
Ryan Oliver launches a shot on net.
Bayley is again making his presence felt around the net.
Eric Lanciault gets his glove over the puck as the Fish cause a panic in the Vees defence.
Alex Charette finds the net with a powerplay goal late in the game to make it 3-6.
When Kyle Stojsin tips in another Charette shot just a few seconds later, he takes a shot on the chin from Eric Lanciault as he turns to celebrate.