Feb 24, 2018 | Bruce Schlitt | 459 views
Minor Atom AE Defeated in Game 1 of OMHA Semi's
A four minute span at the end of the second period proved to be the difference as the Oakville Rangers defeated the Guelph Gryphons 3-2 in Game 1 of the OMHA semi finals.
Both teams came out batting and traded chances through a scoreless first period.
Guelph got on the board first. 3:57 into the second, defenseman Jackson Byard forced a turnover at the Oakville blueline and dumped the puck towards the net. Peyton Markwood picked up the puck, wheeled and shot, whistling a drive off the goalpost. Caleb Davison pounced on the rebound and quickly stuffed it in for a 1-0 lead. 2:42 later, Peter Schlitt aggressively pinched and worked the puck into the corner to Peyton Markwood. Markwood fed a pass to Caleb Davison behind the net and Davison fed Liam Bendo in front who banged it home for a 2-0 Gryphon lead. The lead held until 4:18 left in the period when a Oakville cashed on a breakaway to cut the lead in half. Then with 49 seconds left in the second, they tied the game on a scramble in front. Just 23 seconds later, Oakville banged in the eventual game winning goal. The score stood 3-2 after two periods.
Both teams battled thru a scoreless third period and Oakville took home the victory in Game 1.
The series resumes next Saturday with Game 2 in Oakville.