Laker fight for a valuable point on the road against Voyageurs
Points on the road are always a positive thing and even though they may have faced adversity and deserved better, the Nipissing Lakers men's hockey team truly earned their point Wednesday in Sudbury.
Points on the road are always a positive thing and even though they may have faced adversity and deserved better, the Nipissing Lakers men's hockey team truly earned their point Wednesday in Sudbury.
Twice the Lakers came back to the tie the game, in the end forcing overtime and a shootout, but came up short, losing 3-2 to the Laurentian Voyageurs – the team's second straight extra time loss.
After the Voyageurs took the lead early in the second period, Colin Campbell tied the game with Brock Morrison and Brendan Mitchell drawing assists on the goal.
It was an almost identical situation to start the final period, as the Vees scored just over a minute in and about five minutes late, the Lakers tied things up at two.
Cody Gratton found the back of the net, with Erik Robichaud drawing the helper.
The teams battle for another 23 minutes – the remaining 13 of the third and two-five minute overtime periods before a shootout would decide the game.
Dylan Staples and Cody Gratton scored for Nipissing, but in the end, Vees' forward Brent Pederson's goal would prove to be the winner.
Domenic Graham was very busy and very good, making 42 saves on 44 shots, plus another four in the shootout, but is charged with his second OTL of the year.
To earn the point in what was an intense, physical game is big for Nipissing who seemed to be up against the officials as well, having to kill off nine penalties. They were successful on eight of those attempts, while they only had two power play opportunities of their own.
Nipissing is back in action this weekend when they hit the road for games against McGill Saturday and RMC Sunday.
Wednesday's road game began a stretch of five straight on the road for the Lakers who began the season at home.
Game times for this weekend's game are 5 p.m. Saturday in Montreal versus the Redmen and 4 p.m. Sunday in Kingston against the Paladins.
Source: Nipissing Lakers
