Saturday
night’s game for the Atom Mainstreet Sailors (1-5-0) was against a familiar
opponent, the Mitchell Meteors (6-2-0).
The Sailors have played the Meteors three times this season including a
preseason game, a regular season game and a tournament game. Goderich has yet to beat the Meteors, but
made it a close game at the Maitland Recreation Centre.
The teams traded chances early in the first period, but the Meteors’ were first on the board late in the period and lead 1-0 going into the second. The Meteors’ extended their lead early in the period and led 2-0. A.J was called for a tripping penalty shortly after and the boys had to kill a penalty. The penalty kill lasted only 40 seconds before the Meteors’ took their own penalty for tripping. Neither team scored during their abbreviated opportunities. Seconds after the penalty expired, A.J. was again called for tripping putting the Sailors back on the penalty kill. The Sailors killed off the penalty but were not able to get the offence going.
Just over a minute into the third period, Iain scored an unassisted goal to cut the Meteors’ lead to 2-1. The Meteors’ responded quickly regaining their two goal lead. They extended their lead to 4-1 before the midway point of the third period. The Sailors responded with two goals to cut the lead to 4-3. Gryffin scored an unassisted goal to cut the deficit to two goals. Thirty seconds later a scramble around the Meteors’ net led to a goal by Evan, assisted by Iain and Wesley. With the game within reach, the Sailors pressed hard to even the score.
With three minutes to play Wesley got a partial break into the Meteors’ zone when a Mitchell player knocked his stick out of his hand. He continued to chase the puck and was knocked down and into the end boards. A penalty shot was called on the play. Wesley took the penalty shot with a low wrist shot to the right side of the net, but the Meteors’ goaltender was able to get a pad on it.
The Sailors made a strong push for the tying goal. Late in the period they pulled the goaltender for the extra attacker. The Meteors were able to gain control of the puck and send a shot into the empty net extending their lead to 5 -3 with thirty-five seconds to play.
The Sailors play an away game Sunday morning against the Kincardine Kinucks.