On the strength of a pair of wins to conclude the regular season, the St. Michael’s Buzzers drew their desired first round playoff match up against the Newmarket Hurricanes and very nearly stole a game one victory at the Ray Twinney Recreational Complex on Thursday night.
After a tight checking first period in which the Buzzers weathered an early flurry by the Hurricanes, St. Michael’s jumped up to a 2-0 lead in the second period before ultimately giving up three unanswered goals to drop game one by a score of 3-2.
If there was a positive for the Buzzers to take away from the game, it was that with a determined work ethic, they can certainly skate with the Hurricanes in this series.
“We started off slow but we came in and regrouped after the first period. I think everybody gained some confidence,” said Buzzers’ Assistant Captain Jesse Beamish. “It’s clear that we can play with these guys but it’s just a matter of things clicking and doing things right.”
The Hurricanes had the better of the scoring chances in the first period but netminder Joe D’Elia stood tall, turning away all twelve shots faced.
On the first shift of the second period, the Buzzers jumped in front 1-0 when Lucas Lessio fed Dan Ciampini on a two on one rush for a one timer to beat Hurricanes’ netminder Jimmy Sarjeant. Less than three minutes later, Mike Hawkrigg weaved his way into the Newmarket zone and fired a shot that missed high and wide but the ensuing rebound off the end glass was jammed in by Dan Cameron at the side of the net.
The Hurricanes would respond however midway through the period when the Buzzers got themselves into a stretch of penalty trouble. Joel Hanley took a cross ice pass from Chad Sumsion after creeping down from his position on the blueline and blasted a shot past D’Elia to bring Newmarket back to within one goal. Just over three minutes later, the Hurricanes tied the game on a four on three power play when Matt Dineen walked to the top of the right wing circle and let a good shot go that beat D’Elia to the high glove side.
“I think it was just taking too many penalties and undisciplined play, they scored two of their goals on the power play,” said Beamish, when asked what the Buzzers’ biggest downfall was in game one. “It’s just a matter of being more disciplined and I think we can capitalize at five on five.”
The Hurricanes retook some of the momentum in the third period spending a lot of time in the Buzzers zone. At the 14:10 mark, Adam Davies fed a point shot through a group of bodies in front of the net before it was tipped past D’Elia by John Williamson at the top of the goal crease to give the Hurricanes their first lead of the game.
Down the stretch, the Buzzers generated a few good scoring opportunities but Jimmy Sarjeant, who earned the West Division’s Best Goalie award for his play during the regular season, was able to shut the door.
