SHIELD ON THE VERGE OF 2ND TITLE - CATS WILL NEED THREE IN A ROW!

March 28, 2011

 

SHIELD TAKE STRANGLEHOLD ON FINAL - WIN TWO STRAIGHT 5-4 OT GAMES AT HOME!

 

In what has turned out to be one of the most competitive Russell Cup Championship Finals yet, the South Muskoka Shield are on the verge of their second title after two consecutive 5-4 OT wins has given them a 3 games to 1 series lead and a chance to hoist the Cup Tuesday night in Elliot Lake.

After splitting the first two games in Elliot Lake last week, the Shield made the most of 'home ice' - albeit in Bracebridge - taking double overtime to win Game 3, and scoring in the first OT period of Game 4 to put the Bobcats on the ropes.

After Elliot Lake saw their 2-1 first period lead hold up into the third, power plays were the name of the game with both teams exchanging 5 goals in all, four on the power play.  The Bobcats looked good to tie the series with a power play goal less than 5 minutes from time on a goal from David Sefcik, but the Shield tallied a PP goal of their own with under 2 minutes to go, relying on veteran scorer Dylan Sontag to force overtime.

For the second time in as many nights, the Shield came through in extra time on a goal from Jon Adams at 6:40 of the first OT period.

Game 3 saw the situation somewhat reversed.  The Shield took their own 2-1 lead into the third, and were up 4-2 with less than 10 minutes to play, when the Bobcats got goals from Michal Pastor and Chad Barros, the latter with only 45 seconds left to take their turn to force overtime.

After a scoreless first 10 minute extra frame, the ice was resurfaced, and the Shield only needed 1:44 to take the 2-1 series lead on a goal by Nikita Jevpalovs.

The teams will now venture back to Elliot Lake for Game 5 on Tuesday night, and the regular season champs Bobcats have their work cut out for them.  They'll now have to take three straight games from South Muskoka to take the title, a tall order in any league.  History has not seen too many 3-1 series leads being erased, but at the junior A level, anything can happen, and once again, the Bobcats were the league's best all season.

Game 6, if necessary, will be back in Bracebridge on Thursday night, and should the Cats force Game 7, they will have the deciding game in the friendly confines of Centennial Arena in Elliot Lake.