Playoffs
Port Hope Predators 5 - Lindsay Muskies 4
Round One, Game Four
February 20th, 2008 in Minden
Summary
The season came to an end for the Muskies tonight, but they put in a great effort against a team who have every chance of going all the way in the East. They fought their way back from a two goal deficit in the first period and led halfway through the third, but in the end they just couldn't beat the Predators again. Port Hope will know they have been in a battle, though, and perhaps that is all you can ask when you are the 6th ranked team taking on the 3rd. Indeed the Muskies should be very proud of the way they turned their season around after some at the Christmas break even questioned whether they would make the playoffs at all. Since that break they had one of the best records in the East Division and clearly have a great base to build on for next season - Main Camp will begin in six months!
Period 1
The Muskies found themselves in  a hole early in the first period as the Predators got two goals 48 seconds apart. The first went to the Miller/McCarty/Dunlop line, with the latter getting the finishing touch at 5:39. The second came on a fast break at 6:27 and was scored by Garrett Noiles, who gave Richard Nerland no chance. But after that it was Nerland who kept the Muskies in the game as he produced a series of fine saves to keep the margin at two. Even two goals looked like a mountain for the Muskies to climb, but climb they did. They almost got one back when Kevin George got behind the Port Hope defence, but Billy Stone got enough glove on the shot to redirect it just past the post. The first goal for Lindsay came at 16:58 when Richard Nerland passed out to Kevin George and he in turn sent it up the middle to  Aaron Keaney. Keaney took it in on goal, deked Stone and flicked the puck high into the net. In the closing stages, Ryan Oliver also had a fierce shot tipped wide by the netminder but he ended up having the last laugh. With just 8 seconds left, he cut in from the right wing, headed wide of the goal and managed to force the puck in from an impossible angle. The single assist went to Shayne Taylor.
Period 2
Quite how there weren't any goals in the second period is hard to fathom. There was a host of chances at both ends and once again the two goalies shone. The Predators can claim to have come closest as they twice rang Nerland's right post, while at the other end, a pair of saves by Stone's toes kept the Muskies at bay. At one point there was such mayhem in the Port Hope crease that there were few players on the ice that weren't in the blue paint, but somehow the puck couldn't be forced across the line. Neither team could make their powerplays count, although the Predators still had 71 seconds to carry over to the start of the third period - a third period that the players all knew could well make or break the Muskies' season.
Period 3
The Muskies started the third period well by killing off the penalty, and then they went one better by converting a powerplay of their own. Alex Charette blasted one through from quite a distance at 7:26, assisted by Aaron Keaney and Elliott Richardson. With their noses in front, it looked like the Muskies might indeed be able to force a Game 5, as they gave as good as they got at both ends of the ice. But at 11:42 they found the score level again. Andrew Taylor was the quickest to react to a very lively bounce off the windows behind the goal and he popped the 'rebound' behind Nerland. It wasn't long until Port Hope took the lead. Garrett Noiles found a lot of room out in a central spot out near the blue line and he fired off a shot that fizzed along the ice and found a gap between the goalie's pads at 13:06. Chances continued to come around both goals, with a mixture of good goaltending and dogged defending keeping the score 4-3 in the Predators' favour until the Muskies were forced to pull Nerland for the extra attacker and Tyler Miller quickly dumped the puck into the empty net at 19:06 to put Lindsay in real trouble. The Fish weren't done, though, as they piled towards the Port Hope net in the time remaining and this time the extra attacker ploy worked with Kyle Stojsin beating Stone from close in, with Ryan Oliver getting an assist. But the goal came with only 11 seconds remaining and the Muskies simply ran out of time in their search for a miraculous comeback. It was fitting, however, that the final goal of Lindsay's season should be scored by the captain - one of three players whose junior careers came to an end at the final buzzer due to their age, the others being Richard Nerland and Trevor Mock.
Box Score: Click here
Game Sheet: Click here
Photographs
On his return to the team after injury, Aaron Keaney got two points, including this goal - Lindsay's first.
Ryan Oliver ties the score at 2-2 with just 8 seconds left in the first period.
In the second, Richard Nerland is kept busy but doesn't give up any goals.
The Muskies' hopes are high as Alex Charette fires in a powerplay goal to give the Fish the lead.
Down two goals in the final minute, the Muskies line up without a goaltender and manage to get one back.
After the game, the traditional handshakes.
The final buzzer also brought the end of an era in the timekeeper's box as Justin Switzer is off to college in the summer, after having kept time for the Fish for six seasons. Good luck Justin, and thanks!