Lakers have surprisingly tight series vs. Rams
By Jon Yaneff, Sports Reporter
March 3rd, 2009 at 4:00PM November 30th, 2011 6:30PM
Game 3 of the Greater Metro Junior A Hockey League quarter-final series ended with a 11-2 final for the Innisfil Lakers, giving them a two games to one series lead.
The victory was exactly the exclamation mark they needed, after they barely won, 5-4, in Game 1 Friday in Innisfil, then they lost Game 2 Saturday at the Elvis Stojko Arena in Richmond Hill, 4-3.
“The big difference today was we all wanted it and we played the system (head coach) Shane (Hicke) taught to us,†said winger Brian Davidson, who stepped up with a hat trick and an assist in Game 3. “It was a do-or-die game for us and we did really well because we felt that way. In the first two games we were a little lackadaisical because we beat them all season, so when it came to the post-season we thought we could walk all over them.â€
“I told them before the game, if we lose, let me blame myself not having the right system and the right guys out there,†said Hicke. “And from our first line to the fourth line, they all put the effort in there today.â€
The main focus was passing. The Lakers managed to execute crisp tic-tac-toe passes resulting in empty nets and led to the first goal with Davidson and Jonathan Dew playing give-and-go, as defenceman Anthony Gambacorta banged in a rebound. Rams forward Brandon Amirault tied the game on the power play with 51 seconds left in the first.
In the second, the Lakers got back to their style of hockey, scoring eight goals in the period, including four power-play goals. Davidson and Jonathan Dew each had a pair of goals in the period. The lone goal scorer for the Rams in the period was Amirault.
The Lakers added two more power-play goals in the third with Davidson completing his hat trick and defenceman Jamie Wicks scoring on a one-timer.
Though the Lakers outshot the Rams, 14-10 in the first, the rest of the way Ontario Lightning only managed four shots (two a period), while Innisfil ended with 47 shots in the game.
Game 1 – Innisfil 5, OLR 4
In the opening game of the series, the Lakers pulled out a nail-bitter, as forward Caleb Lister scored with 53 second left in the game to give the home side a one-goal advantage.
Goaltender Geoffrey Sadjadi came up huge, making 32 saves, while the game’s third star was his counterpart Mark Wardell (44 saves) for the Rams.
The game’s first star was defenceman Jamie Wicks, who assisted on Innisfil’s four power-play goals. Gambacorta, Dew, Alaiksei Kulikouskiy and Connor Hendry scored the goals on the man advantage. Amirault and Val Borschevsky each had a goal and assist for the Rams.
Game 2 – OLR 4, Innisfil 3
The story in this one had net-minder Wardell stand on top of his head for the Rams, stopping 46 shots for the victory.
The first frame had each team score after one another, as it was 3-3 heading into the second. Dew had a pair, while forward Max Newman had the other for Innisfil. Amirault, Adam Avison and Brett Joslin were the scorers for the Rams.
Forward Frank Spano scored with about seven minutes left in the second, which held up as the game-winning goal.
“Going into (Game 3) we said our fore-check had to be as physical as theirs,†said Hicke, because of the poorly exhibited body checking in Game 2. “I don’t think we had 10 body checks in (Game 2), but we had 10 in the first four shifts (in Game 3).â€
Game 4 Preview – Innisfil at OLR, 1:30 p.m.
Game 4 is Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. in Richmond Hill. Game 5 would be Thursday (March 5) in Innisfil at p.m.
“If we play like we did (in Game 3) nobody’s beating us,†said Hicke. “We set our goal. We had to win 11 games to win the GMHL championship and Tuesday will hopefully be another one to get us to that mark.â€
Injury Report: Defenceman Payden Davidge is out with a lower back injury from a muscle pull, while blue-liner Shawn Sullivan is still with his grandmother, who is in the hospital. The newly acquired defender Colin Gaffney is also out with the cold and flu symptoms.