Stars Setback in O.T.
For the first half of their game against the London Knight on Thursday night, the PeeWee Stars lacked the focus, intelligence and determination that their fans had come to enjoy and expect during the Constellation Playoffs. As a result, they found themselves on the wrong end of 2-0 score at the Western Fair Arenas.
However, power play goal with just over three minutes to play in the second period, seemed to give the Stars the boost they needed. Matty Thomson, who always plays with tremendous composure when he has a nap before the game, let go a wrist shot from the point that found its way through a maze of players and behind a screened Knight's tender to bring the Stars within one. Josh Reda earned the lone assist on the play.
The Stars carried that momentum into the third period dominated the game whenever they managed to play at even strength. Even when playing short handed for the final four minutes of the game, the Stars created several good scoring chances and held possession of the puck in the Knight's end for the majority of the time.
With only second remaining on the clock, and Brennan Agius on the bench for an extra attacker, Matty Thomson manufactured a heroic rush from his own zone. Carrying the puck through the neutral zone and into the Knights' zone, Matty made a slick saucer pass over a defender's stick to Jesse Tottle and raced between two Knights defencemen to the net. Jesse received the feed on his backhand and made a nice return pass, which Matty flipped behind a helpless Knight's goaltender with only five seconds remaining on the clock to silence the stunned London fans and send the game into overtime.
Unfortunately, in the first shift of overtime, the Knights took advantage of a couple of failed clearing attempts as London captain, Scott Nielson picked up a loose puck just inside the Star's blue line, carried the puck in through the slot before shelving a wrist shot high on the short side. It was a beautiful shot and certainly worthy of an overtime winner, but it was definitely tough pill to swallow for the Stars' bench.
The Stars have promised a more passionate, intelligent and compete game effort on Saturday at the Timken Centre as they try to even the series again at four points each. Until then...keep you stick down, cover the short side and don't get deked.
