Eurekas and Greyhounds Keep it Close

Stuck on a single regulation win apiece, like pretty much everyone else, the Greyhounds and Eurekas wanted to join the Osprey as the only teams with multiple 3 point nights.

 

We didn’t get our first shot on goal until 2 minutes had elapsed and that was by the Eurekas.  It wasn’t for lack of trying though.  Greg Delano had a good opportunity off a rush, but Brian Collins denied him the opportunity, and a brutal giveaway by Kyle Publicover in front of his net somehow didn’t lead to a Greyhounds shot on goal.

 

Kris Leblanc got the Greyhounds started when he was alone in front, did a little deke and was stopped by Ashton Speight.  Shots were 1-1 at 13:47 of the first.  This would definitely change.

 

Dylan Warren had a good backhand chance that Logan MacLean easily handled and the Eurekas were up 4-1 in the shots as the game remained scoreless 6 minutes in.  Of the next draw, the Eurekas pulled it back to the point and Brian Collins took the shot… right into the shin pads of Greg Delano.  Delano had a clear cut breakaway from his own blue line and as he got to Speight, he shot.  The puck went just wide of the net.

 

Jake Rankin tried to move the puck from the Eurekas zone a few minutes later and he had his pocket picked.  The Greyhounds got the puck to the boards where Delano spun a pass to Connor MacPherson at the side of the goal.  He deflected it and it went through the crease, off the far post and stayed out.

 

Evan Ridley had a one time shot on goal in the slot, but Logan got his glove up in time.  As his D touched the puck, the whistle went and a man went to the box.  Zero goals were scored on the PP with the best chance coming off the stick of Kyle Gouthro shorthanded.

 

Dylan Warren was trying to show he wasn’t a one game wonder as he deked through the Greyhounds whole team on multiple occasions, but couldn’t find the back of the net. Greg Delano put one off the side of the post with 5 minutes left, and Noah Joncas took a clapper that was deflected on goal, and he nearly poked in the rebound before Ashton could cover.  Brian Collins nearly caught Logan MacLean napping with just 4 seconds in the period as he almost scored on the wraparound, but in the end, the first period would end without any scoring at all and then Eurekas leading 13-11 in shots.

 

The second period started with Greg Delano having another good chance.  Brian Collins basically backed out of the way and Greg could have easily skated through but took a shot from the slot instead, and hit the stick of a reaching Collins.

 

After a sweet dangle by George Murray led to a couple good shots on goal for the Eurekas the Greyhounds Kyle Gouthro went for a skate and just before he got a shot off in scoring position after dekeing Kyle Publicover, Matt Anderson got his stick on the puck and knocked it away.

 

The Greyhounds had a long period of possession in the Eurekas zone and they had a few good chances, but they couldn’t find the puck in a scramble, and when it finally popped out, Nick Roache hit the post.

 

We finally saw a puck hit the back of the net in the second period.  Jake Rankin was on the doorstep to knock in the second rebound to put the Eurekas up 1-0 at 11:55 of the period.

 

On the next shift it looked like Connor MacPherson was about to tie it up.  While at a tough angle to the side of the net, he had a lot to shoot at.  Brian Collins, after dropping his stick, dropped down and got a shin pad on the shot to preserve Ashton’s shutout. 

 

The Eurekas made a push to extend their lead, but kept letting the Greyhounds have chances in between their own, and then they took a penalty.  The Greyhounds setup and worked the puck around, eventually landing on Greg Delano, a huge surprise.  Delano had the seas part for him and with a month to shoot, he decided high glove was his best option.  So did Speight, and Ashton robbed him but couldn’t hold on and the Greyhounds kept possession.  Delano would miss another chance at the side of the goal as the pass he was given hopped off his stick with an open net.

 

A great pinch by Kyle Gouthro kept the play alive and Brock Bethune tracked it down behind the goal line.  He quickly sent a pass in front and Delano put it between the legs of Ashton before Ashton knew the pass had been made. 1-1 with just over 7 minutes left to play.

 

Back right at them went the Greyhounds and Drew LeFrank deflected a shot on goal and then nearly put the rolling rebound into the back of the net, and would have were it not for Matt Anderson saving the day.  The Eurekas were leading 26-23 in the shots department at this time and the game was up for grabs, one shot could decide it all.

 

Jake Rankin, with his super fan Trevor Pate watching from the sidelines, snagged a loose puck in the neutral zone and then zipped into the Greyhounds zone, shooting in stride, he eluded a sliding Connor LeBlanc and beat the blocker of Logan MacLean to give the Eurekas the lead.

 

Intensity suddenly increased and there were chances both ways but few shots.  Dylan Warren was streaking in for the Eurekas when he had his stick lifted by Noah Joncas as Warren was bringing it down for a shot, sending him down to the ice.  The Greyhounds took control of the puck and just missed scoring up ice.  We were in the final 3 minutes and pulling the goalie was being put on the Greyhounds table.  Instead of pulling his goalie, Captain Connor decided that he would just score instead.  Mat McLeod’s point shot was stopped and went right to MacPherson who backhanded it in at approximated at the opposite of warp speed.

 

With 47 second left, Connor LeBlanc called for and received a pass as he entered the Eurekas zone.  He corralled the puck and fired a wrister which Speight got just enough of to send it over the net.

 

Shots on goal Greyhounds 30, Eurekas 29 (video verified).  With nothing solved, this game was headed to a shootout.  First up Dylan Warren of the Eurekas.

Warren - missed wide of the glove side

Bethune - glove save

Ridley - deke, five hole on the ice, goal

Delano - deke, bobbled, shot off skate and post, no goal

Nickerson - missed wide blocker side

McLeod - shot off the pad

 

The Eurekas held on to win the game in the shootout, thus giving us a 3 way tie for second place, which could change tonight as the Evergreens face the Norsemen.