Game # 43
Lindsay Muskies 3 - Port Hope Predators 6
January 26th, 2008 in Port Hope
Summary
The Muskies picked quite a time to make their first trip of the season to the Jack Burger Sports Complex. This was the make-up game for the weather-stricken December 16th date and at times the Muskies played a bit more like the team we had seen before Christmas than the one we have enjoyed in 2008. There were likely some good reasons for this, given that it came on the heels of the two draining games against Kingston and at a time when the club is beset with flu. At least three players took to the ice unwell, whilst Aaron Keaney wasn't even able to dress. This meant a call up for Tim Herlihey, who wore #34. Not surprisingly, the Muskies came out flat and found themselves in a four goal hole that they nearly climbed out of. In the end, though, they had to admit defeat and now must get ready for the next game on Monday when they face Cobourg. The Cougars will be playing with no pressure now they have been eliminated from the playoff race.
Period 1
A good start was vital if the Muskies were going to get anything out of this one - and that didn't happen. The Preds took an early lead at 1:09 as luck favoured them. The goal was credited to Jessie Chidwick but it went in off a Lindsay skate after a lively rebound off the back wall. Hopes of the Fish mouting an immediate response were dashed by one of those unfortunate too-many-men penalties that come about when the puck is fired toward your bench just as you are changing on the fly. Although the Fish killed off the penalty, it meant the Predators had the throttle down from early on, and soon after it was 2-0 when the puck bounced into the Lindsay crease and just needed a touch by Mitch Moffatt to finish it off at 5:18. The Preds dominated the rest of the period as the Muskies made a large number of unforced errors - a sure sign of the fatigue and sickness surrounding the team. They certainly didn't look like the Fish we have come to enjoy in recent weeks.
Period 2
Things got worse for the Muskies before they got a little better. They gave up a third goal at 3:18 as Chad Dunlop cashed in a powerplay. That was the end of the night for Richard Nerland who gave way to Matt Ginn, although no-one was pointing the finger in his direction. The new tender hardly had a chance to flex his muscles before it was 4-0. A quick move down the right wing ended with a pass across to Chidwick who beat Ginn before he could get all the way back across his crease. At that point there seemed a real chance of a humiliation for the Fish, but then at 11:20 they got one back. Kyle Stojsin in his own zone spotted Ryan Oliver floating behind the Port Hope defence and a pinpoint pass sent him in on goal unopposed. He slid the puck under Billy Stone to cut the deficit to three, with Matt Ginn also picking up an assist for starting the move off. It still left a mountain to climb but it did seem to wake the Muskies up. They could have got even closer if they could have got to a few of the generous rebounds they were forcing out of Stone. At the other end, though, there were ominous signs as three times the Preds came close to a shorthanded goal.
Period 3
The Muskies couldn't have hoped for a better start to the final period as they struck twice in a little over three minutes. The first came at 1:37 when Rob Kay passed to Jeff Bayley fifteen feet out and he slotted the puck in under Stone. It was a goal well-deserved by two players who made a lot of good things happen tonight. Then at 3:07 the score became 4-3 as Shayne Taylor scored. When he was given way too much room twelve feet out, you just knew what was going to happen as he let rip with a wicked shot into the top corner. Elliott Richardson and Cam Granger were awarded the assists. The Muskies fought hard from then on, and had their chances to get back level. But instead at 6:51 Port Hope got the insurance goal they had looked like needing earlier in the game. It came with a little bit of luck as a tussle for the puck in the face-off circle saw the puck jump out straight to Joe Christiano open at the top of the crease and he executed the perfect finish to beat Ginn. The rest of the game was quite open until the Muskies pulled their goalie with about 90 seconds to go in a vain attempt to close the gap. They pressured the Preds' goal quite well for at least a minute but then the home team engineered a break out that ended with three of their players all alone in the Lindsay zone negotiating who should have the final touch. It went to Chidwick to give him his hat-trick of sorts.
Box Score: Click here
Game Sheet: Click here
Photographs
Moffatt gives the Predators a two goal lead in the first period.
Richard Nerland and his defence concentrate on not letting it get any worse for the Muskies.
Ryan Oliver skates clear and opens Lindsay's account.
Alex Fiset tries to make his presence felt at the top of the crease.
Early in the third period, Jeff Bayley makes it 4-2.
And soon after Shayne Taylor scores Lindsay's third.