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Forest, ON –
The last time the Sarnia Legionnaires and Lambton
Shores Predators met, the Legionnaires had lost
three of four games, while the Predators had won
their third of the season. But on Saturday, the
story was turned, as Sarnia came in with a five game
win streak, while the Predators came in with a five
game losing streak. And Sarnia would push it to six
wins, as the Legionnaires had a strong second period
and won 4-2.
"Not a bad
road game, they came out strong," said Legionnaires
head coach Dan Rose. "They are a way better team
then they were last year. They came out with a good
effort in the first five minutes, we were a little
sloppy, but give them credit, it is their home
barn."
The
rivalry between Sarnia and Lambton Shores brought a
rough first period, one that saw no scoring, but
plenty of physicality between the two Lambton County
teams. It wouldn't be till the second period when
the score sheet would begin to fill up, as the
Legionnaires got back into their disciplined play,
and played consistent hockey for the majority of the
period.
Anthony
Donati opened the scoring six minutes into the
second on a drive to the net to make it 1-0. Shawn
Waldie would put in the Legionnaires second just
over two minutes later, as the Legionnaires found
their game and moved the puck well.
Brent
Sauve would finish off the period with a nice move
through the defencemen's skates before sliding it
passed Brandon Campbell to finish off the three goal
second period for Sarnia, which also saw the
Legionnaires outshoot Lambton Shores 18-11.
The third
period saw some luck go the Legionnaires way, as a
dump in along the glass would hit a partition in the
glass, and come out front to Louie Rowe for his
first as a Legionnaires after being sent down to the
Sarnia Sting.
With
Sarnia out in front and the physical play beginning
to turn up again, the Predators would try to make a
game of it. Kyle Brothers would crack the shutout,
putting home a loose puck in front of Kyle Washer to
make it 4-1. A minute later Kyler Keating would get
a pass from Adam Arseneault at the blue line and
send a wrist shot passed a screened Washer to cut
the lead in half.
But that
is as close as the Predators would come, as the
fluke goal by Rowe would put a damper on any
comeback.
"We had
our chances," said Predators head coach Mark Davis.
"That fourth goal killed us. If we make it 3-2,
that's big, that means they have the pressure on
them."
Lambton
Shores had new faces in the line up, and overall
Davis thought Saturday's game was well played by the
Predators, except for the second where they came out
flat footed and allowed the Legionnaires to score
three. Brandon Campbell had another stellar game for
the Predators, stopping 27 shots, while having to
come up with some big saves to keep Lambton Shores
in it.
Sarnia has
played their best hockey of the season, but Rose
hopes that this type of consistency from the team
continues after December when the playoffs around
close, and games begin to mean much more. Rose
believes that the process of getting the
Legionnaires ready for after Christmas is still on
going, and that they still need to learn to
constantly play consistent hockey and not fall back
into their old ways.
Lambton
Shores will take on London Sunday night, while the
Legionnaires will welcome London next Thursday to
the Sarnia Arena.
Follow Sarniasports on twitter
@sarniasports.
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