by Romano Di Franco
The Nepean Raiders played their second game in as many nights but unlike the first game another win just wasn’t in the cards.
The Raiders got into penalty trouble and the Brockville Braves made them pay heavily as the put four PowerPlay goals past Tyler Laureault.
Riley Twofoot opened the scoring for Brockville and it was the only even-strength goal of the game and it came at 6:36 of the first period. The Raiders went into the first-period intermission down just 1-0 but penalties to Alex Rossides, Isaiah Baptiste, and Evan Boucher all led to goals and the Raiders found themselves trailing 4-0 before Patrick Larkin would close the gap with his seventh goal of the season assisted by Alexandro Rossides and David Fontaine. It was Larkin’s second straight game with a goal but that would be all the Raiders would get as the Braves would add one more in the third to make it a 5-1 game.
The Raiders were out-shot by a slender margin of 33-31 but it was the special teams that proved to be the difference in the game. The Raiders were 1/2 while the Brockville Braves went 4/6.
Things got a little wild in the third period as Isaiah Baptiste was assessed a 5-minute major for Boarding and given a Game Misconduct.
The Raiders playoff hopes were officially dashed as they were mathematically eliminated from the post season with the loss on Friday night. The Raiders will play the rest of the season trying to end on a strong note.
Patrick Larkin was named the game’s third star for his one-goal performance. Josh Spratt got the nod as the first star. He had one goal and three assists. Justin McRae was named the game’s third star. He racked up one goal and two assists.
Simon Harkness got the start in between the pipes for Brockville. It was his ninth appearance of the season and with the win moves his record to 5-1-1. He had a save percentage of 0.968. The Raiders peppered him with quality shots but Harkness was equal to the task.
The Raiders next game is Sunday, February 9 as they host the Ottawa Junior Senators at the Nepean Sportsplex Steve Yzerman Arena for a 2:30pm puck drop.
