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Sarnia, ON
- In was a shocker collapse Thursday night at the
Sarnia Arena, as the Lambton Shores Predators came
from behind to upset the Sarnia Legionnaires who
held a three goal lead midway through the second
period, yet allowed five unanswered goals in a 6-4
loss.
"It's a
big win for us," said Predators coach Mark Davis. "A
lot of people in this barn counted us out, but our
guys kept working and working."
Lambton
Shores has played with the stereotype of being a
free win since moving to Forest. But with the new
coach and new frame of mind in the locker room, the
Predators had a win streak that matches last years
entire win total.
"When they
final understand to move their feet, do the right
things, things happen for them" said Davis. "In the
third period we just kept the game simple. Go north
and south. We don't get ourselves in trouble if we
just go up and down the ice."
Lambton
Shores had the early lead as Trevor Ladd scored 1:39
into the game from an awkward angle, beating Kyle
Washer for the 1-0 lead.
From there
the Legionnaires would begin their own streak of
unanswered goals, as Jesse Drydak would kick off the
scoring, tying the game after Daniel Nikandrov stole
the puck behind the net and fed Drydak in the slot
for the one timer. Jeff Paulley would follow up near
the end of the first period the Legionnaires first
lead of the game, picking up the puck on a drop pass
at the blue line, and beating Campbell five hole as
the goalie tried to hug the post.
With
Sarnia up 2-1 to begin the second period, Nathan
Mater would increase the lead with a wrist shot from
the slot beating Campbell high for a 3-1 lead.
Then some
history happened in the barn, as Jesse Drydak becAme
the all time leading scorer in Sarnia Legionnaires
history with a powerplay goal in the second period,
marking his 92nd goal with the team, and 192 career
points with Sarnia, while also giving the
Legionnaires a 4-1 lead.
But the
game would take a turn, as the old Sarnia
Legionnaires returned to Sarnia in the form of an
undisciplined team. Sarnia would put one of the best
powerplays on the ice, and it would cost them, as
Kyle Brothers would cut the lead in half with the
first powerplay goal of the night to make it a 4-2
game. Brendon Merritt would score in front of the
net off a bouncing puck to put the Predators just a
goal behind heading into the third period.
In the
third, the powerplay would end the Legionnaires
night, as the Predators would score a total of three
powerplay goals including an empty net goal. Kyle
Brothers would puck up hat-trick, scoring two on the
powerplay, while also giving the Predators their
first lead of the game since the first period.
Sarnia
would not be able to amount much offence in looking
for the tie, as they played out the final two minutes
on the 5 on 3. Washer would be pulled for the extra
attacker, and the Legionnaires would get one chance,
but Campbell would come up with the toe save,
sending the play the other way where Ryan Rontondi
would score on the open net to finish of the 6-4
come from behind victory.
"We
stressed to the kids at the beginning of the year
that we needed to knock down the penalty minutes,
especially against a team like this," said assistant
coach Bob Farlow. "We knew if we shot ourselves in
the foot tonight by putting our self in the penalty
box, we were going to pay for it, and we did."
After
having their 11 game winning streak snapped in
Chatham over the weekend, Sarnia has now dropped
their second in a row, and second in three games to
the Predators this season. Lambton Shores has won
five of their last six games.
Mark Davis
looks at these games as crucial to the success of
the Predators, as challenging top teams and coming
out with wins will go a long way towards confidence
in the dressing room and on the ice, as the
Predators look to make the playoffs for the first
time in their team history.
Lambton
Shores will host St. Thomas on Saturday, while
Sarnia will travel to Strathroy on Saturday.
Follow Sarniasports on twitter
@sarniasports.
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