Jan 10, 2012 | stottle | 1294 views
Stars Keep Shining in Waterloo
Only two days after an impressive home ice victory over the Kitchener Rangers, the shorthanded Jr. Stars went on the road to Waterloo on Monday night. Once again playing with only ten skaters and employing the same conservative, defensive system, the Stars were able to build up a 3-0 lead heading into the third period and then hung on for a 4-2 victory on the expansive ice sheet that is the Pillars rink at the RIM Centre.
Jesse Tottle opened the scoring and added to the growing list of Play of the Year candidates with a memorable marker midway through the first period. In Bobby Ryan-like fashion, little Totts picked up the puck in the neutral zone and stickhandled around three Wolves defenders before breaking in alone on Waterloo goaltender Bobby Soosaar. Displaying his new-found scoring prowess, Jesse snapped a quick wrist shot high over the outstretched glove of an apparently awestruck Soosaar. Derek Folkard was credited with an assist on the play.
Perhaps the turning point in the game came as early as eleven seconds remaining in the opening stanza. With a face off deep in Stars territory to the left of Rogie Tottle, and the Wolves planning a last second offensive thrust, little brother Jesse was able to win the face off and start a quick breakout. Gaining speed through the neutral zone as precious seconds ticked off the clock, Jesse was able to carry the puck across the Wolves blue line and attract the attention of both defenders before saucing to his left toward a streaking Derek Folkard. Folksy calmly sniped a shot into the bottom right corner with one second left on the clock to give the Jr. Stars a 2-0 lead heading into the second period. Isaac Robinson also earned an assist on the play.
Folksy made it two consecutive two-goal games when he took advantage of a flubbed Soosaar attempt to cover a loose puck and slammed the biscuit home for a 3-0 lead heading into the second period intermission.
As anticipated, the Wolves came out strong in the third period and managed to narrow the score to 3-2, taking advantage of a couple of Stars' miscues. A questionable hooking penalty with three minutes to go, gave the Wolves power play an opportunity to tie the game at 3-3. However, after some quality penalty killing by T.J. Turley and Michael McArthur, and with 1:11 left on the clock, Zach Smith wheeled around deep in his own end and let go a 190 foot wrist shot that, much to everyone's surprise, found its way into the vacated Wolves net for a shorthanded security marker. The Stars held on for a satisfying 4-2 road victory.
Game Notes: Josh Mallory is making progress in his recovery from an undisclosed lower body injury and is rumoured to commence light skating as early as this week....Rogie Tottle was solid in net for the Stars and even made a few acceptable plays with the puck....baby steps....I know it has been said here before, but Folksy certainly seems like the Belmont reincarnation of Jari Kurri....and that's a very good thing....Zach Smth played his strongest game in a month.....the new defensive system seems to be agreeing with him....As luck would have it, Pierce Lawrence sneezed just as the puck arrived at what would otherwise have been an easy, clear cut breakaway from the red line. Damn allergies.....Tyson Durfy played a solid defensive game despite suffering from flu-like symptoms....until next time, keep your stick on the ice, cover the short side and don't get deked.