by Romano Di Franco
The Nepean Raiders played out their third and final game of their season opening three game home stand by welcoming the Brockville Braves at the Nepean Sportsplex. Nepean came into this game fresh off a 5-3 loss to the Cornwall Colts. Meanwhile, the Brockville Braves won their home opener 6-4 against the Carleton Place Canadiens. For the starting goalies, John Gedraitis made his third straight start and Nate Galbraith made his second straight start in goal dating back to that aforementioned game.
The Nepean Raiders began the game with some great scoring chances from the get go including a break away from the captain Luka Benoit in which Nate Galbraith slammed the door shut.
The only goal from the game came from Peter Legostaev on the powerplay. Ryan McNally and Volodymyr Karpachov got the assists. Despite being outshot 20-15, John Gedriatis was great in the first period once more for the Raiders as he stopped 19 of the 20 shots in the period.
Eighteen seconds into the second period, Tyler Smith banked a shot from Nate Galbraith on what seemed like a nothing play to tie the game at one a piece. Carter Williamson and Luka Benoit got the assists. Benoit and Williamson now have points in three straight games.
The stalemate would be short-lived when Peter Legostaev scored his second goal of the game and fourth of the season ten seconds later. McNally and Vital Dinis assisted on that quick goal.
In response, the Raiders scored on the powerplay twice from goals form Nicholas Larkin and Tristan Konobelj. With two minutes left to go in the second period, Kayden Buller scored to tie the game at three. Drake Sled and Aiden Carolan assisted on the goal. Even though the score was tied at the end, Nepean outshot Brockville 17-10 in that second period.
A minute and twenty four seconds in the third period, Volodymyr Karpachov scored to make the game 4-3 for the Braves. Just like the second period, the Raiders stormed back to tie the game at four. Luka Benoit scored his third goal on the season from Tyler Smith and Carter Williamson assisted on the goal.
Brockville closed out the scoring when the former Smiths Falls Bear Jesse Lumsden capitalized on a shorthanded turnover and on an empty netter Kayden Buller.
The three star selection are as follows, Peter Legosteav was named the first star for the Braves for his two goal performance, for his first goal of the season, Nicholas Larkin was the second star for Nepean and Volodymyr Karpachov was the third star of the game for Brockville for scoring one goal and one assist.
Nepean’s next game will take place on Saturday September 27th when they go off to the Jim Durrell Sports Complex for the first game of this home and home series against the Ottawa Junior Senators.
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