by Romano Di Franco
The Nepean Raiders lost in a game that was much closer than the score would indicate as the Kanata Lasers scored a 4-1 win over the home team Raiders. After Luca Nocita opened the scoring at 12:31 in the first period and his second of the game at 16:25 of the second period, the Lasers took a 2-0 lead after 40 minutes of play.
Kanata’s top line of Nocita, Paul Larabie, and Trevor Poeze registered two points apiece and that was enough as captain Beau Binnie was the only Raider to beat Kanata net-minder Vincent Bujold-Roux. Dylan McMahon tallied his eighth goal of the year and Kanata defenseman Lukash Matthews netted his fifth of the season with an empty net, shorthanded goal assisted by Bujold-Roux. Bujold Roux stopped 26 of the 27 shots he faced, good enough for a .0963 save percentage.
Tyler Lareault continued to shine in the Nepean goal as he saved 35 of the 38 shots directed his way posting a 0.921 save percentage in the loss.
The game featured some wild moments late in the first period. Raider left-winger Evan Boucher who is in 3rd in team scoring was assessed a Checking From Behind penalty and a handed a Game Misconduct. The Raiders, who were playing with five defensemen and eleven forwards to begin with, had to juggle some spots on the top line as Boucher would not return.
Kanata outshot Nepean 39-27 and neither side was able to capitialize on the powerplay. The Lasers went 0-for-3 while the Raiders went 0-for-5.
Josh Root had a pair of penalties for Roughing and Slashing while Isaiah Baptiste took the only other Raider penalty for Holding.
Beau Binnie’s one-goal performance earned him the game’s third star. He has now been named a game star for the sixth time this season which ties him for second on the team with Matt McQuade. Tyler Laureault continues to lead the team with twelve nods. Nocita’s two-goal effort gave him the first star and Larabie’s two-assists were enough to get him named second star.
The Nepean Raiders next game is Wednesday January 29th when they host the Pembroke Lumber Kings for a 7:30 pm puck drop. They close out the month of January with a home game being against the Navan Grads two days later.
