Playoffs
Lindsay Muskies 2 - Port Hope Predators 7
Round One, Game One
February 15th, 2008 in Port Hope
Summary
A disappointing start to this year's playoffs campaign emerged from this meeting of two bitter rivals. Although it would be unfair on the Predators to say that their victory was the result of the officiating because they played very well, the performance of the referee certainly had a numbing effect on what for a while had looked like an intriguing playoff game for the three or four hundred fans in attendance. The Muskies led the game after one period but fell victim to two quick goals at the beginning of the second period. From then on, the game was finished as a spectacle as the Fish were given the balance of the eleven straight minors Mr Buxton handed them and had no chance to get any momentum back. The way one team got all the calls was reminiscent of the gold medal game between the US and Canadian women at the Salt Lake City Olympics in 2002.
Period 1
Port Hope tore at the Fish from the get go. At 1:01 they took the lead when a shot from the boards was tipped past Matt Ginn by Chad Dunlop. But the Muskies warmed up and came right back at them. Rob Kay sent in a seeing-eye shot from near the blue line at 2:58 to even things up, assisted by Kyle Stojsin and Ryan Oliver. The first powerplay then came to the Muskies and they took full advantage. They had some problems building from their own end but somehow the puck found its way to Alex Charette playing alone on the right wing. He stepped inside the Port Hope zone and unleashed a bullet into the top left corner. The goal, timed at 9:50, was unassisted. The period was largely closed out with the Fish a man down for six minutes as  referee Buxton only spotted Lindsay offences despite plenty of evidence the other way. But the penaltykillers did an admirable job preserving the lead and looking likely to breakaway on a couple of occasions.
Period 2
It didn't take long for things to unravel in the second period. The Muskies had the first rush but it came to nothing and very quickly the Preds went the other way and some neat passes ended with Tyler Miller putting the puck in the net after just 20 seconds. A very similar play saw another goal for Port Hope at 2:32 with Miller again getting the final touch. From then on it became the Ben Buxton show as what had promised to be a great playoff game deteriorated into a one way parade to the penalty box. It is of great credit to the Muskies that they only gave up one more goal. It was, of course, a powerplay goal and was scored at 6:52 as Miller completed his hat-trick, just after the Fish had successfully killed off a full two mintues of Preds two man advantage. The frustration among the Lindsay coaching staff and players was obvious and the referee twice added extra minors for dissent. It wasn't just the unnecessary calls that annoyed them but also the continued blind spot as far as offences by the home team went. A good example of what caused the bitterness was a hooking call against Elliott Richardson when he clearly did no such thing. Another was when Aaron Keaney was clearly grabbed and held in a bear hug without any call, and he took things into his own hands and was promptly sent to the sin bin for two minutes, which became four when he said what he thought of the ref's performance. With two more minors coming to Lindsay two minutes later, it meant another full two minutes of two man advantage for the home team, but again they were thwarted by the Muskies' defence. The only positive thing the visitors could say about the officiating was that at least the stripes didn't fall for it when Chad Dunlop, who otherwise had an impressive game, flopped like a halibut out of water in the crease, either trying to draw another penalty or to get under the Lindsay players' skin a little more. While he didn't succeed in the former, he may well have achieved the latter. It wasn't until there were only thirteen seconds left that the referee finally spotted an infraction by someone in a white jersey.
Period 3
All the atmosphere had gone from the game by the third period, in which referee Buxton hardly called any penalties at all. Three times the Predators struck for goals, although after the first of them the game was really over as a contest as the Muskies could find no way to reply, although they certainly came close on a few occasions. Richard Nerland replaced Matt Ginn after the sixth Port Hope goal. What was maybe a little surprising was that given the heightened emotions that perceived injustice always generates, there was just one fight. It came at a time of eerie confusion at the Port Hope blue line. What can only be described as a mess developed, with players almost seeming to stand around waiting for the whistle to go for something, but when it didn't come, Alex Charette and one of his Predator opponents decided to settle things with their fists instead, with both getting kicked out of the game for their troubles.
Box Score: Click here
Game Sheet: Click here
Photographs
The Muskies get ready for the playoffs, with Alex Charette amongst those sporting new hair colour.
The first puck drop of the 2008 playoffs.
It only takes the home team 61 seconds to open their account.
But soon after, Rob Kay responds with an excellent goal for the Muskies.
Alex Charette then puts the Fish in front with an unstoppable blast from the point.
It was good to see #17, Kevin George, back in the Lindsay line-up tonight. Here he is on the ice for one of the few times the Muskies weren't shorthanded in the second period
The Preds blew the game open in the third period as the penaltykilling took its toll on the visitors' energy levels.