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Blazers Rally In Third To Take Series Lead
2014-03-30
March 29, 2014. Saturday night in Glace Bay the Sackville Blazers trailed the Glace Bay Junior Miners 4-1 after two periods then rallied with four unanswered goals in the third period to take the first game of the best-of-seven Nova Scotia Junior Hockey League final.
The Junior Miners suffered their first loss, in post-season play, and only their fourth loss at home all year.
At the BAYplex, the Miners struck for two unanswered goals to take a 2-0 lead after twenty minutes. Just 1:41 into the opening period Ryan Bursey collected an unassisted marker to give Glace Bay a 1-0 lead. Then with six and a half minutes left in the period Sam Johnson picked up a power play goal assisted by Brett Simmons and Lincoln Bradley.
The teams were dead even on the shot clock at 17 apiece.
In the second the Miners struck for another pair of goals to go up 4-0 midway through the middle period. First, Sam Johnson with his 2nd power play of the night, from Mark Gouthro and Lincoln Bradley. Three and a half minutes later Tyler Pyke finished with Sean Ferguson and JM Walsh before Justin Hessian finally had the Blazers on the board with just two and a half minutes to play in the period. Jarrett Johns and Matt Munro picked up the assists.
Shots in the period favoured Jr Miners 17-13 for a two-period total of 34-30.
In the third the Blazers came alive with four unanswered goals then held on for the 5-4 win. Justin Hessian, with his eight of the playoffs from Andrew Skinner and Shayne Oderkirk started the comeback just over seven minutes into the final period. Four minutes later team captain Shayne Oderkirk finished with Hessian and Shane Boudreau and had the Blazers to within one at 4-3. A minute later rookie Derek Nelson, with his first of the playoffs, potted a power play goal from Shane Boudreau. Then with only a minute and a half to play the smooth-skating Aaron Meahan lifted the Blazers past the Miners with Jordan Keizer drawing the lone assist.
The Blazers held on to take game one 5-4.
Jonathan Boutin picked up his 9th playoff win while Nick Walsh suffered the loss.
Final shots were 43-41 Glace Bay.
Game #2 is set for Sunday in Glace Bay at 4:00 pm.
At the BAYplex, the Miners struck for two unanswered goals to take a 2-0 lead after twenty minutes. Just 1:41 into the opening period Ryan Bursey collected an unassisted marker to give Glace Bay a 1-0 lead. Then with six and a half minutes left in the period Sam Johnson picked up a power play goal assisted by Brett Simmons and Lincoln Bradley.
The teams were dead even on the shot clock at 17 apiece.
In the second the Miners struck for another pair of goals to go up 4-0 midway through the middle period. First, Sam Johnson with his 2nd power play of the night, from Mark Gouthro and Lincoln Bradley. Three and a half minutes later Tyler Pyke finished with Sean Ferguson and JM Walsh before Justin Hessian finally had the Blazers on the board with just two and a half minutes to play in the period. Jarrett Johns and Matt Munro picked up the assists.
Shots in the period favoured Jr Miners 17-13 for a two-period total of 34-30.
In the third the Blazers came alive with four unanswered goals then held on for the 5-4 win. Justin Hessian, with his eight of the playoffs from Andrew Skinner and Shayne Oderkirk started the comeback just over seven minutes into the final period. Four minutes later team captain Shayne Oderkirk finished with Hessian and Shane Boudreau and had the Blazers to within one at 4-3. A minute later rookie Derek Nelson, with his first of the playoffs, potted a power play goal from Shane Boudreau. Then with only a minute and a half to play the smooth-skating Aaron Meahan lifted the Blazers past the Miners with Jordan Keizer drawing the lone assist.
The Blazers held on to take game one 5-4.
Jonathan Boutin picked up his 9th playoff win while Nick Walsh suffered the loss.
Final shots were 43-41 Glace Bay.
Game #2 is set for Sunday in Glace Bay at 4:00 pm.