Greyhounds Look to Squeeze out a Win

Nobody wants to start their season with back to back losses, but that shit happens, and it was about to happen to the Eurekas or Greyhounds.  Sure, the game could end in a shootout and each team taking home points, but one of these teams was going home without a victory.  It'll be the same tomorrow night for the Lions and Tigers. Oh my.

The Eurekas were once again without their projected top scorer Matt Peters, and Captain Shannon Farrell, fresh off a big trip to Scotland, was no-where to be found with expectations of excuses like "I fell asleep", or "I'm still on Scotland time, and it was 2am there".  Either way, many on her team waere questioning her commitment, or even her existence.  

It was a Greyhounds shooting gallery from puck drop.  They had 6 shots before the Eurekas first.  4 minutes into the game, one such shot dropped between Ashton Speight's legs and a quick whistle prevented a goal as the puck popped out behind him with Greyhounds lurking.  7:30 into the period, Michael Lawless made a good read on a Eurekas breakout and stole the puck.  He entered the zone, took two strides and fired a shot that looked pegged for the top corner, but Speight kept it out of the Eurekas goal as the game remained goalless.

Scott Stewart had the next good chance as he deked on an odd man rush, pinging the puck off the Eurekas' post.  Stewart had another good chance a couple minutes later when Adam Jarvis made a great pass as Eurekas defender Jordan Kenny dropped to his stomach to try to break up the pass.  Stewart had the puck get to him and Speight made another great save.

Connor MacPherson, making his season debut for the Eurekas, kept the puck in the offensive zone and went into NHL 98 mode,  he took the puck down into the Greyhounds zone along the boards, he then cut towards the net.  Keegan Lewis blocked a shot with his skate, and MacPherson got it back and kept in motion.  He cut across the goal mouth and Dan Theuerkauf couldn't stop him as he tucked it on far side.  The Eurekas, against the grain, took the lead with just over 5 minutes left in the first.

A nice keep in by Ricky Ferris of the Eurekas and a harmless looking shot towards the net, nearly found the back of the net as it went off a leg and Dan Theuerkauf was forced to make a big toe save to keep it out. The Greyhounds led in the shots category 18-12, but trailed on the scoreboard as the first period ended.

Andrew MacDonald buried a rebound a few minutes into the second as the score was tied up.  Michael Lawless's shot off the post nearly came back out and off the goalie, but it stayed out as the Greyhounds had the best chances to take the second period lead.

With 7 minutes left, Adam Jarvis made a great pass to Scott Stewart, nearly identical to the play that went unfinished earlier in the night, but this time Stewart buried and the Greyhounds had the 2-1 lead.  With 3:50 to go, Michael Lawless was looking to be in alone but Ricky Ferris dove to take him out.  While he was down, Lawless fired a good shot on net forcing Ashton Speight to make a beauty glove save to give his team a chance.  Ferris went to the box and the Greyhounds went to the power play.  They couldn't find a goal, but they killed two precious minutes.

With 50 seconds to go, the Eurekas pulled Speight but they couldn't muster a good shot on goal.  The Greyhounds got their first win of the season and will take on the Osprey next week in what will be a good test.  The Eurekas will take on the Tigers in their matchup.