Do or Die for the Osprey

After the madness of game 1, game 2 started with a llama.  A llama?  Yes, a llama.  Derek Hale brought his emotional support llama to the rink to watch game 2, fully decked out in an Aurora jersey.

 

When the puck dropped, the two teams were playing a defensive game.  Matt Simpson had a couple of short side chances, and Dylan Kugler had a good shot from the left wing for the Aurora, but nothing spectacular.

 

Then it looked like Matt Ryder might get a chance for the Osprey, but Nick Collins shut him down.  Nathan Bessey redirected a shot from Branden Rankin just wide with about 10 minutes to play, but we still hadn’t seen a goal.  Dylan Kugler was playing well for the Aurora, and he fought through a check to get a good opportunity with 7 minutes left to play, but Nick Stryniak was composed in the Osprey goal, shutting him down with the glove like it was nothing.

 

Keith Webb was having a game much like Kugler’s but for the Osprey, and he brought the puck over the blue line but an Aurora stick came with him as it was released mid hook.  On the delayed penalty call, Webb found Taylor McKay in the slot and fed him a pass.  McKay got a great shot off, but Logan MacLean shut him down with his blocker.

 

An Aurora player got control of the puck and to the power play went the Osprey.  Kurt Thibault took a shot from the top of the circle 30 seconds into the power play.  He shot it hard and wide, but it went off the stick of Kyle Ervin and then under the blocker arm of Logan to give the Osprey the first lead of the game with 4:41 left to play in the opening period.

 

Nathan Bessey and Noah Joncas had a race for the puck on the next shift with Bessey looking for a breakaway, but Joncas was able to fend him off.  Joncas however got pick pocketed by Taylor McKay in his own end with 20 seconds left in the period.  The puck was handed right to Keith Webb and Webb took 2 strides toward the net, and released a shot short side.  Logan stoned him with the blocker.

 

Early in the second period, Crowell nearly tied it up with a wrister that Stryniak made a nice glove save on.  The Aurora were finding that the ice was titled in their favour and David Lacey entered the Osprey zone on a 3 on 2 with Kugler and Carrigan.  He made the pass in front to Kugler who one touched it to Carrigan, and Ray fired it up and over the shoulder of the goalie to tie the game.

 

Spurred on by the energy given by a goal, Lacey came in and fired a shot on goal.  The rebound went out just in front of Stryniak and he dove to poke it away, but Dylan Kugler got his stick on it first and the next thing we knew, it was 2-1 Aurora, just 28 seconds after tying it up.  

 

Ethan DeBruyn, arriving for the start of the second, was feeling like he may be bad luck for the Osprey.  Matt Ryder made his presence known just a minute later as he ripped a wicked wrister that went off the tip of Logan’s glove, the. The crossbar, then the post, then the back of the net to tie the game.  Ethan DeBruyn nearly gave the Osprey the lead on his next shift as he clanged one off the iron, but the game remained tied.

 

With just a one goal lead, the Aurora buckled down and started to play more defensively, even Brandon Crowell was sliding to block shots in his own end.  Matt Simpson wasn’t getting much going, but a tip on the power play made Osprey fans hold their breath for a moment until the puck went just wide of the net.

 

Branden Rankin was grinding away and he stole a puck at the blueline as the Aurora tried to exit their zone.  Rankin wound up a big clapper and nearly beat MacLean, but the tie wouldn’t break and the clock was getting closer and closer to zero.  The overtime format is 5 on 5 for 5 minutes, then we go to 4 on 4 for the next 5, and we play 3 aside until a victor is declared.  The Osprey called a timeout with 2 and a half minutes left and both teams tried to get the right players on the ice for a strong finish.

 

With 2 minutes left, Kurt Thibault made a pass on a 2 on 1.  Matt Ryder was streaking toward the net.  The pass was a foot too far, and no chance was to be had.  We were down under a minute left, overtime feeling like it’s coming, but that’s wasn’t to be.

 

With just 28 seconds on the clock, Bobby Sacre took a shot from the point.  Matt Ryder tipped the puck and then it went off a skate, and off the thigh of Mat McLeod, and with those crazy bounces, the puck bounced right into the net, no chance for Logan to stop it.  

 

The Aurora took a penalty off the next draw and their chances to come back and tie it was thrown away, the Osprey win 3-2 and force a third and deciding game on Thursday night at 10pm.  Come on out and see who will win the Nomad Cup.