Osprey and Aurora Turn up the Intensity

Were you to look at the regular season record between these teams, you would see that the Osprey took all three games, but examining it a little more closely, would reveal that each game was tight and could have gone either way.

The Osprey led the way with a fair amount more zone time than the Aurora and Jonny Prall was keeping everything out of his net.  Daniel Theueurkauf was facing fewer shots in the Osprey goal, but they were higher percentage shots.  It wasn't until 1:08 remaining in the first that we got our first goal of the game.  After a failed clearing attempt, Joey Richard picked up the puck and found a tiny space in the top left corner of the net and he nailed it to put the Osprey up 1-0.

Just 20mseconds later, the Aurora started to fill the box, first with a tripping penalty.  The Osprey power play looked like they might score a power-play goal but the puck coming to an open Mat McLeod was to his wrong side and the open net would have to wait as he chased the puck into the corner.  The Aurora managed to keep the door closed as the buzzer went right after a Garrett Murray shot was saved by Prall.

The second period started with the end of the Osprey power-play but they couldn't capitalize on their opportunity.  It wasn't long before the Aurora gave the Osprey an early Easter present when one player took a hooking penalty, and another took an unsportsmanlike when he shot the puck down the ice in frustration.  A full 2 minute 5 on 3 for the Osprey was enough to leave the pink team salivating.

As the Osprey tried their best to score, the Aurora were dialed in.  Brandon Crowell kept getting his stick into passing lanes and clearing the zone.  With just 30 seconds left in the two man advantage, the Aurora cleared the zone and skates the puck out, but Jamie Richard started working back and you probably could have chosen any one of three penalties to call, but slashing was the official's penalty of choice as he took his man down.  Still a 4 on 3 advantage for the Osprey, with a ton of available ice, it felt like the game was moving towards a 2 goal lead for the Osprey but they couldn't manage to add to their lead, and the Aurora moved to their power play.  It was also a fruitless endeavour.

10 minutes to play in the second and every loose puck was worthy of a gladiatorial battle, neither team giving an inch.  Mike Bourgeois found himself thwarting a scoring chance but taking a penalty and the Osprey went back to work.  Unfortunately for Nathan Bessey's team, they oooked more threatening at even strength as his team's power play was worse than the Pittsburgh Penguins, failing once again to score.

Max Dewey and Jared Peckford took matching minors with 3:18 to play and then David Lacey took what can only be called a stupid penalty with just 90 seconds left and his team down by a goal, as he two handed the foot of an Osprey player, making no attempt on the puck. 

With their captain in the box, the Aurora players took on the role of communal captain and pulled their goalie as they got possession in the Osprey zone.  With just 15 seconds left, the puck came towards Keith Webb alone in front of the Osprey goal.  As he went to release a shot, even though he did so quickly, two Osprey players got their sticks in to disrupt the shot as Theueurkauf lunged forward.  Webb just needed to get it up and over the outstretched goaltender, but those pesky Osprey sticks ruined the scoring opportunity and the Osprey remained up by a goal and the puck was iced, bringing a faceoff to the left of the net.

This is where things got a bit ugly as tempers flared and a few players got into to it with each other.  16 minutes in minor penalties were handed out with 11 seconds left on the clock.  Another icing by the Osprey and then one last faceoff for all the glory.  Crowell won the draw and the Aurora got a shot towards the net, but wide and the Osprey hung on to win 1-0.

Both goalies played well but only Dan Theueurkauf could take home the shutout.  These two teams will meet again on Thursday night.