by Romano Di Franco
BROCKVILLE, ON – The Nepean Raiders travelled to the Brockville Memorial Centre to take on the Brockville Braves Smiths. It was the third meeting between the two teams with Brockville having taken both previous meetings. Both teams entered the contest 2-3 in their last five games. It was the Raiders first game since the announcement that Luke Posthumus has been invited to the Team Canada East Camp for the World Junior A Challenge.
Luca Sandu (3-6, 4.13 GAA, 0.898 SV%) was in goal for Nepean while Sami Molu (6-7, 2.89 GAA, 0.912 SV %) got the start between the pipes for Brockville.
The Raiders had a 3-game streak in which they scored first but that streak was snapped in this game after Lucas Culhane’s shot from the slot beat Sandu over the glove to give the Braves the 1-0 lead.
The Raiders had their chances putting 10 shots on Molu to Brockville’s 5 shots but the after 20 minutes it was the Braves out in front.
The Braves poured it on in the second with four unanswered goals by four different Braves. Eric Barnard, Nick Foster, Thomas Haynes, and Kyle Powers all scored to put the Braves up 5-0.
Sandu was pelted with 26 shots in the middle frame while Nepean threw six shots at Molu.
It was a quiet third period with no scoring and no penalties but it was Nepean that forced the play outshooting Brockville badly in the final frame by a margin of 18-3. Harris Hilfiker had Nepean’s best chance of the night betting robbed when his point-shot was scooped off the goal line. It was the first time this season that the Raiders have been shut-out.
Sami Molu (34 saves) was named the game’s first star. Lucas Culhane (1G | 1A) had the game winner and was the second star. Tyler Melvin got the nod as the game’s third star.
Harris Hilfiker was named the Hardest Working Raider.
Nepean is in action again in two days time as they host the Kemptville 73s at the Nepean Sportsplex Steve Yzerman Arena for a 2:30 pm puck drop.
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