Jesse Drydak broke out of his scoring slump in a big way last night to lead the Sarnia Legionnaires to a 4-2 win over the Lambton Shores Predators.

The 19-year-old veteran scored twice, including the winner on a powerplay, to give the Legion crew its second Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League triumph in a row.

The outbrust allowed the flashy right-winger to double his goal output, giving him four on the season.

With the score deadlocked at two goals apiece late in the second period, Drydak came out of the corner and found the back of the net from a sharp angle.

"It was just hard work by Shawn Waldie and Chase Clark to get the puck down low to me,” he said later. “I walked in and sneaked it under the goalie's arm.”

In the third frame, with just under seven minutes left, Drydak struck again, using his blazing speed to break into the clear.

"It was a good chip by Clarkie,” he said. “I knew he was going to make that chip and I got into the clear and hit the five-hole.”

Strong start

The Legionnaires came flying out of the gate in the opening stanza, with Andy Sokol lighting the lamp at the four-minute mark with a low shot from the faceoff circle. Tanner Tomlinson, who made the play possible by winning the draw, was credited with the lone assist. Sokol has scored three goals in four games since returning to the club from a lengthy suspension.

Centre Owen Rogers made it 2-0 just 55 seconds later when his low drive from the slot found the back of the net. Clark and Drydak got helpers on the play.

Just when it looked as if the route was on, Predators forward Cody Curts caught Sarnia goalie Mike Reed out of position and got the visitors back in the contest.

Wild second period

Action in the second frame was slowed almost to a walking pace as the two teams took one penalty after another. With skaters going off for slashing, fighting, boarding, roughing, spearing and head checking, among other things, there was little flow to the action.

Lambton Shores tied the game 2-2 when Brendon Merritt scored on the powerplay at 12:06. But any hopes that the always-spunky Predators might get their first victory of the season were dampened when Drydak sent the 1,307 highly partisan spectators into spasms of joy with his first of the night.

In the third period, defenceman Josh Chapman, who was named the game's third star, made a nifty play to foil a two-on-one break.

After the game, goaltender Reed was congratulated by his teammates for picking up his first win of the season.

"It feels great to get a win, finally,” he beamed. “The boys really helped me out after a shaky start. There were some weird bounces.”

Both Reed and Drydak feel the Legionnaires, who were listing at the beginning of the season, have regained a more even keel. In fact, they have won three of their last four contests.

"I think we're on the right track now,” the goalie said.

Drydak added, “We've got all the tools to be a winning hockey team. We're going to start winning a lot more games.”

Coach Jeff Perry was pleased with his club's effort.

"I thought the kids worked hard,” he said. “It was a difficult game to play. I though we were outstanding in the first period. In the second period the penalties took the momentum out of the game.”

He had praise for Drydak, saying, “When Jesse gets back to the basics he's one of the best in the league. He has to simplify his game.”
 

Perry was also impressed with the work of Predators goalie Shawn Parker, who made 34 saves, including 13 in the first period alone. Reed turned aside 18 pucks over the course of the evening.

• Sarnia played without Captain Tyler Cicchini and defenceman Tanner Ferguson, who are both injured, forward Brett Thompson and rearguard Steve Farlow, who were both sick, and Ilya Arkolav, who is still awaiting permission from Hockey Canada to play. The Predators were also without a number of players, including high-scoring forward Ryan Rupert.

• The Legionnaires will travel to St. Mary's Saturday to face the Wheatfield Blades of the Golden Horseshoe Conference at the league's third annual Showcase Tournament.

• Both teams demonstrated strong penalty killing, with Sarnia surrendering only one goal on nine shorthanded situations and Lambton Shores giving up just one marker on 11 manpower disadvantages.

• Drydak, who ended up with two goals and an assist, was first star, while Clark, who set up three goals, was second and Chapman third. Parker probably should have been named a star.

• The hard-luck Predators are 0-10 despite having taken their last three opponents to the wall before coming up just short.