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Sarnia, ON
– Only one was going to walk out with a five game
winning streak Thursday night at the Sarnia Arena.
Except, rather then the Sarnia Legionnaires playing
their regular Thursday night home game, the
Mooretown Flags hosted the Alvinston Flyers in a
special home game in junior C hockey.
Despite
four powerplay goes, Alvinston couldn't solve Andrew
Ganter 5 on 5, while the Flags chased Flyers
starting goalie James Morreau out of the net in the
second period, as the Flags went on to an 8-4
victory.
But even
though the Flags were able to score eight times,
there will need to be some work in the near future
on the Mooretown special teams.
"It is
obvious tonight we need to work on our special
teams," said Aberhart after the game. "The powerplay
clicked a couple of times but the powerplay wasn't
there tonight and it let them back into the game. We
are not doing the little things correctly."
Aberhart
acknowledges that Mooretown has the ways and means
to make up for those mistakes, as the Flags offence
has been heavy in the last five games. But Aberhart
knows that at some point in could come back to haunt
the team, and possibly at a time when they need a
win the most.
Before the
Flags began their winning streak, offence was still
a question, as lines were still forming. Since their
first win on September 24th, the Flags have scored
31 times, outscoring opponents by 19 goals in those
five games.
"We have
been able to find the back of the net with some
regularity," said Aberhart. "The first two games we
were a little shy on the offence but since then we
have kicked it into gear. That is really what saved
our bacon tonight."
After the
first period the Flags had a 3-0 lead on the Flyers.
Michael Gray started the scoring by tipping in a
Jeff Sit shot from the point on the powerplay to
make it 1-0. Kyler Constantine would make it 2-0
with a backhander the found its way passed Morreau.
Jeff Schroeter would make it 3-0 after a deflected
passed landed on his stick and he banged it into the
net.
Mooretown
controlled the first period, outshooting the Flyers
11-8, while Alvinston looked to be sluggish out of
the gate.
Michael
Gray would add his second of the game in the second
period, throwing the puck on net for a 4-0 Flags
lead, chasing Morreau from the net, as the Flyers
put in goalie Sebastien Malette . At the other end,
Andrew Ganter made numerous saves, keeping the
shutout.
Malette
wouldn't have much time to warm up, as Calab Harse
would make it 5-0 for the Flags nine minutes into
the second period.
But with
the game seemingly out of hand, Mooretown got into
mid-period penalty trouble, giving the Flyers their
first powerplay chance. Connor Thompson made it 5-1
off a backdoor shot, spoiling the shutout. Mooretown
would continue with penalties, giving the Flyers a 5
on 3 chance. Joe Archer would score twice on the
double penalties, first off a second backdoor
goalie, and then on a break away, as his two goals
came 20 seconds apart, making it a 5-3 game.
But 13
seconds after, Cody Schmidt would respond, and end
the unanswered goals. Mooretown would restore a four
goal lead after Schroeter got his second of the game
on the powerplay, as Mooretown lead 7-3.
Alvinston
would score their fourth powerplay goal of the game,
as Parker Simpson made it 7-4 to start the third
period, but Mike Burns would get the final goal of
the game, as Mooretown wins 8-4.
Aberhart
credits Alvinston penalty success to Mooretown's
inability to clear the puck from their own end.
Alvinston was 4 for 9 on the powerplay.
Mooretown
outshot Alvinston 40-32, with Ganter picking up his
fifth win of the season making 28 saves. Ganter made
numerous saves during the Flyers second period goal
streak that saved the two goal lead, including a toe
save while still holding his shutout that easily
could have turned the tide the other way, but
instead gave the Flags the lift they needed to hold
onto the victory.
Mooretown
is now 5-2-0 to start the season and will host
Wheatley on Saturday back in Mooretown. Alvinston's
streak was snapped and now have a 4-2-0 record on
the season. The Flyers will head to Wallaceburg next
Wednesday to face the Lakers.
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@sarniasports.
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