Game # 34
Quinte West Pack 3 - Lindsay Muskies 4 OT
January 4th, 2008 in Lindsay
Summary
The Muskies began the new year with a crucial win over Qunite West. The Pack are currently occupying the final playoff berth and must be the Muskies' first target in the games remaining. Things didn't look too good early on when the Muskies played quite well but found themselves two goals behind in the first seven minutes. However they kept battling all evening and finally got the win in overtime when Ryan Oliver put the puck through Sirman's five-hole. Cam Granger celebrated his birthday a day early by grabbing the first two goals, while a superb individual effort by Kevin George got the Fish into the extra frame. Shayne Taylor made his first appearance for Lindsay since his rights were acquired from Huntsville in a deal that sent Corey George to Muskoka. Taylor has played 82 times for the Erie Otters of the OHL and got an assist on the overtime winner this evening. On the other side of the trade, Corey George also made his debut for Huntsville this evening, and got an assist just 42 seconds into the game (along with former Muskie Ken Carswell), although the Muskoka version of the Otters went on to lose the game to Aurora.
Period 1
Things seemed to be going okay for the Fish in the first few minutes of play in 2008 but things quickly went off the rails as the Pack scored twice in a minute to open up an early lead. Dustin Walsh found Richard Nerland's five hole at 5:45 and then at 6:37 a harmless looking effort took a deflection off a Lindsay defenceman to take it past the goalie's glove. It was tough luck on the Muskies who had started in a determined fashion. It knocked them back a little but as the period wore on they really started to put some nice moves together and always looked like getting back into the game. It was on the only penalty of the period that the Lindsay powerplay unit clicked to open their account. A speedy shot from the point by Mike Wills was deftly tipped in by Cam Granger at 10:10, with Brett Waters also picking up an assist. The Muskies continued to look sharp for the rest of the period and came within a whisker of equalizing when Shayne Taylor released a quick shot that beat Sirman hands down but which came back off the foot of the post. That was as close as they came to adding to their total before the first break but the Fish had certainly looked the more skillful team, although the Pack played with a lot of grit.
Period 2
In the second, it took the Muskies a while to get back into the same groove they finished the first period. They fired a few blanks but then they gradually began to reassert themselves. Once or twice it was evident that Shayne Taylor and his linemates weren't quite yet in sync as the new recruit made some wonderful plays that the others weren't quite ready for, but it looked very promising for the games ahead as they get to know one another. The Muskies got the tying goal they deserved in a spell of four on four hockey and it had a bit of luck about it. Cam Granger sent over what might have been a shot or a pass but either way it ended up in the net when it hit Sirman and deflected in. It came at 10:11 and was assisted by Aaron Keaney and Robin Kellar. The Fish again began to pick up the pace and finished the period the stronger team but with the scores level at 2-2, we had a whole new game on our hands heading to the third.
Period 3
The Muskies made the worst possible start to the third period as Jacob Doseger was allowed too much time to turn and put the puck across Nerland into the far corner just 51 seconds after the restart. Once again the Fish would have to battle back to save the game. Battle they did but far too many shots were going wide of the target and it took a moment of individual brilliance to level the scores again. Kevin George seemed to take on the whole Quinte West team before spinning as he fell and sweeping the puck into the corner of the net beyond Sirman. It was almost Ovechkin-esque - and a crucial goal for Lindsay, coming just 5:15 before the end of regulation. It then looked like the Fish might go on to secure a win without the need for overtime but a penalty against Kellar in the final minute left the Muskies grateful to hang on for the extra frame.
Overtime
The last time these two teams met in Lindsay, the Pack pulled off a 4-3 overtime win, and with a significant amount of powerplay time left to start sudden death, the chances of them repeating that feat looked good. But the Muskies' penalty-killers had other ideas, even working some good shothanded shooting chances of their own. Then with the teams back to four skaters each, Alex Charette and Shayne Taylor combined to release Ryan Oliver into the Quinte West zone, and the Lindsay #10 got enough on his shot for it to squeeze through Sirman's pads and into the net. The extra point means that the Pack are now only four points ahead of Lindsay, who have two games in hand. The teams also have to meet each other three more times, with the final encounter being the Muskies' last home game of the regular season, which already is beginning to look like a mammoth match-up - keep the evening of February 8th free!
Box Score: Click here
Game Sheet: Click here
Photographs
Cam Granger, #18, tips Mike Wills' shot through the goalie's pads for Lindsay's first goal.
Newcomer Shayne Taylor, #29, worked hard all night.
Cam Granger watches as his shot hits Sirman and goes in to make the score 2-2.
A penalty is on the way as the Muskies press for another equalizer in the third period.
Somehow Kevin George manages to slide the puck home through a crowd of Quinte West players after showing that the George family is still well-represented in teal and white.
As the Muskies try to kill off a penalty in the dying seconds, Alex Charette fires the puck away from danger, watched by goalie Richard Nerland.
In overtime, Ryan Oliver grabs the extra point for Lindsay by firing the puck through Sirman's pads.
The scorer is buried by his grateful teammates who all knew how valuable the goal could prove to be.