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[ Game Photos ]
For the first time in four games between the St. Michael’s Buzzers and Newmarket Hurricanes in their best of seven quarter finals series, a game was not decided by a one goal margin. It also marked the first time the Buzzers had won a game as they came up with a gutsy 3-0 victory on home ice in game four on Tuesday night to stave off elimination and earn a trip back to Newmarket for game five on Thursday.

Understandably on a young and inexperienced playoff team, there were some nerves on edge in the Buzzers’ locker room prior to the game with their backs against the proverbial wall. After getting away with a less than stellar effort in the first period in which St. Michael’s was outshot 14-6 and took several needless penalties, they gained traction as the game went on and appeared to relax over the final forty minutes.

“I think a lot of the young guys were nervous and that’s to be expected,” said Buzzers’ Head Coach Mike DePellegrin. “Some of the veterans spoke up and we talked about just laying it on the line and walking away from a game like this with your backs against the wall feeling satisfied that you gave everything you could give and tonight we did. Really it was no different than any of the first three games but tonight we finally got some bounces.”

Joe D’Elia’s netminding was a big reason why the Buzzers got out of the first period still in a scoreless tie. Looking confident, D’Elia frequently made saves on the white ice, cutting down the angles and controlling his rebounds effectively. As a veteran on the team, D’Elia knew he needed to step up with a big performance.

“These guys have been counting on me all series so it’s good to finally come through and actually steal one for them,” said D’Elia, who made thirty six stops for a shutout. “I’m pretty happy about it.”

Following game three, DePellegrin stressed the importance of continuing to go to the net and to attack as a five man unit. Midway through the second period, that message was on full display as Anthony Rizzo charged hard to the net and took a pass from Lucas Lessio before one timing it past Hurricanes’ netminder Jimmy Sarjeant on the power play to get St. Michael’s up first.

“That’s been the key to beating this team (going to the net),” said DePellegrin. “Tonight we had some of the bounces go our way but if you look at the game tonight, it’s no different in my mind than the last three before it; it was just a bounce here and a bounce there and both teams played well but we came out lucky tonight with our bounce to get on the board first.”

The Buzzers defence, once again, did a fine job of limiting the Hurricanes in terms of quality chances, keeping a lot of Newmarket shots to the outside and making sure that D’Elia did not have to deal with a lot of traffic in the goal mouth.

“If Joe can see the puck, he’s going to stop it,” said Buzzers’ defenseman Matt Nowicki. “It’s simple for us defensemen, just keep them to the outside; don’t even let them into our zone easily. They’re a defensive team; guys are not going to be able to score from the outside. That’s what they do to us and we did it to them today.”

Not only was Nowicki solid, along with his other defensive compatriots, in his own zone but he contributed a goal late in the second period to grow the lead to a pair of goals. Only one goal during the regular season, Nowicki’s game is not geared toward offense but goals from unlikely sources certainly are invaluable at this time in the season.

“It was good to get some insurance,” said Nowicki. “Usually my game is to stop some opportunities for their team but I was able to cash in on one myself in the second period which was huge at the time.”

Midway through the third period, Dan Ciampini put the Buzzers up 3-0 after he stole the puck in the slot and tucked a backhand shot over the shoulder of Sarjeant.

Down the stretch, D’Elia continued his solid play and recorded his first shutout of the season.

“D’Elia played really well tonight but I think he’s played really well all series,” said DePellegrin. “In the playoffs, you need a goalie to stand on his head to have any kind of success so we’re riding him right now.”