Nov 29, 2012 | rswigger | 358 views
Frustrating Loss to Saugeen Shores 1
For the second time this season, the Ice Dogs out-played, out-chanced, and out-shot Saugeen Shores 1, and for the second time, somehow came out a little shy in scoring.
Recalling the frustration of an early-season loss to a team they outplayed, the Ice Dogs hit the ice in Paisley Wednesday night looking for a little payback. From the opening shift, it looked like the Dogs might just get it. But like the first shift, the game was FULL of scoring chances that didn't make the game sheet. In a period dominated by Arran-Elderslie (9-1 in shots!), the Storm would come out of the first with a 1-0 lead.
Nearly a whole period after the opening tally, there was a sense this would be one of those nights when the boys just couldn't connect. But then, at the 4 minute mark of the second, Liam stood up a Port Elgin player at centre, stripped him of the puck, and broke down the right wing, finishing the play with a nice shot, low short-side, unassisted. Truly a highlight reel, TSN-turning-point kind of goal!
With the score knotted at 1 in the third, Dylan took a feed from Brett near centre, and worked his way through the mob of Blue jerseys for another beauty off his own rebound. With 7 minutes to go, it looked like the hockey gods had finally smiled on the Dogs for their work ethic. But, as often happens in the hockey world, a brief lull can change your fate. To their credit the Storm didn't quit, and over the span of 4 minutes, things went south. Our forwards weren't fore-checking with the same urgency, and our D were hemmed in, trying to clear through mobs of feet. Saugeen scored a beauty at the 4 minute mark, and netted the winner with just over 3 to go.
A minute or two of uninspired hockey can kill you when the teams have this much parity, and on this night, that was the unfortunate outcome. And it certainly was ours for the taking: the Dogs had a total of 9 breakaways in the game, only getting shots from 5 of them, and scoring on none. Missed opportunities sometimes have a way of haunting you in the dressing after the game, as they did tonight. But, heads up guys, something tells me we'll see them again this season, and surely we'll triumph when the chips are down. Sam did a good job filling in Bradley, and Brett probably played his most inspired game of the season. Waykin worked hard on the wing, and some better passing by all was evident. At the end of the night, however, it was Liam who earned the game puck for his work on the wing, and a beauty goal.