Game # 31 Lindsay Muskies 5 - Bowmanville Eagles 2
December 19th, 2007 in Bowmanville
Summary
Lindsay picked up a vital win in Bowmanville as they try to catch the Eagles or the Pack for a playoff place. The game started with a massive stroke of luck for the Fish but was only really sealed once the Muskies learned how to deal with the often-potent Bowmanville powerplay. Lindsay's own powerplay was also magnificent as it clicked three times out of five. Matt Ginn not only earned the win (his second in Bowmanville this season) but he was also credited with the first goal of the game when the puck ended up in the unguarded Eagles net on a delayed penalty against the Muskies. The team must now build on this win when they face the same team again at home on Friday evening.
Period 1
The Muskies outshot and outscored their hosts in the first period, with the Fish also benefitting from a huge bit of luck to give them the lead. At 6:54, with a delayed penalty against Mitch Vasey on the way for hooking and the Bowmanville goalie off to the bench, the Eagles misplayed the puck and stuck it in their own net. Goalie Matt Ginn, as the last Lindsay player to touch the puck, was credited with the goal. Lindsay then found themselves two goals ahead when Alex Charette celebrated his 19th birthday by potting a goal on the powerplay at 10:02. Assists were given to Kyle Stojsin and Ryan Oliver.
Period 2
When Kevin George gave the Muskies a 3-0 lead at the 6:04 of the second period, it seemed like the Fish might be taking a commanding grip on the game. He scored on a powerplay, assisted by Ryan Oliver and Alex Fiset. But the next five powerplays all belonged to Bowmanville and they converted two of them. Brandon Couto got the first at 7:28 and Ben Parker the second at 8:38. Clearly the momentum had swung back in favour of the home team, courtesy of too many penalties, but the Fish did still have a one-goal lead to defend going into the third period.
Period 3
Jeff Bayley took a tripping penalty 1:43 into the final period meaning the Fish had now taken six consecutive minors but the practice must have helped because when they killed it off, it also meant they had denied the Eagles special teams four times in a row. On the other hand, the home team hadn’t had to defend a powerplay for almost 20 minutes of play and perhaps that didn’t help them because when Brandon Couto picked up two minutes for roughing, Kyle Stojsin promptly gave the Muskies a 4-2 lead, assisted by Alex Charette and Corey George at 7:09. Not prepared to sit back, Lindsay added one more to their total at 16:04 when Aaron Keaney beat Chris Azzano, with assists going to defencemen Elliott Richardson and Brett Waters. It was the only true five-on-five goal of a seven goal game and it concluded the scoring.
Box Score: Click here
Game Sheet: Click here
Photographs Not available