by Romano Di Franco
NEPEAN, ON – The Nepean Raiders hosted the Smiths Falls Bears at the Nepean Sportsplex Steve Yzerman Arena for a Sunday matinee that was the third meeting of the season between the two teams. Each team has a home-win in the series.
Will McEvoy (6-7-1, 0.898 SV%, 3.61 GAA) got the start between the pipes for Smiths Falls while Evan Martin (1-9, 0.870 SV%, 5.63 GAA) got the start in the Raiders goal.
Smiths Falls jumped out to the early lead with Will Rivet notching his 8th of the season at the 2:54 mark of the first. The goal came on a 3-on-2 and Rivet snapped a shot in the high slot that went just over Martin’s’ glove. The Bears made it 2-0 on a wrap-around goal by Lleyton McLean who beat Martin to the left post.
The Raiders best attempts came from a Samuel Beaulne blast from the slot and then later in the period when Tyler Melvin knocked the puck from Isaac Barrett to give Nepean a 3-on-0 but after a tic-tac-toe pass with Owen Hollingsworth McEvoy made the left pad save to keep Nepean off the board.
After 20 minutes, Smiths Falls had a 2-0 lead on the scoreboard and a slight 9-7 advantage in shots.
Eli Doughart-Wood made it 3-0 after tapping in a rebound in the paint that fluttered in the air that eluded Martin who had made a couple of stops on the same play. The Bears extended their lead to 4-0 period after Alec Hamady tapped in another rebound this time from the slot after Martin made the initial save off Sean James.
Smiths Falls chased Evan Martin from the game after Riley Thompson made it 5-0. Connor Shibley came in to relieve Martin who left with 13 saves on 18 shots. Thompson faked going around the net before stopping and wrapping it into the spot vacated by Martin. The goal came with the Raiders on the 5-on-3 penalty kill with both Todd Northgrave (Roughing) and Jack Matsukubo (Tripping) in the box.
Brody Fournier beat Connor Shibley after a tremendous pass from Sean James found Fournier all alone at the far post with a yawning cage that he had no problem finding for his 24th of the season.
The Raiders’ best chance in the second came on the penalty kill after Chase Campeau stole the puck from Thomas Gangl and went in for the short-handed breakaway but McEvoy kicked it aside to keep his scoresheet clean for two periods.
After 40 minutes, the Smith Falls Bears held a commanding 6-0 lead while outshooting the Nepean 25-18.
Rivet got his second of the game in the third period jamming home a rebound that Shibley gave up after a great save against Colton Chipman making it a 7-0 game. Sean James made it 8-0 after penalties to Jordan Graham (Roughing) and Samuel Beaulne (Cross Checking) game gave the Bears another 5-on-3 man-advantage that saw James one-time home a pass from Isaac Barrett.
Anthony Rivard had the best chance for Nepean in the third. He one-timed a pass from Zachary Lefebvre on the far post but McEvoy was able to slide across to make the save. There was just no beating McEvoy on the day after he robbed Rivard.
The Bears swept the three stars with Will Rivet (2G | 1A) was named the game’s first star. Will McEvoy (26 saves, shutout) was the second star while Sean James (1 G | 3A) earned third star honours.
Connor Shibley (20 saves on 23 shots) was named the hardest working Raider.
The Raiders open their March schedule on Wednesday at the Nepean Sportsplex Steve Yzerman Arena when they take on their cross-town rivals, the Ottawa Junior Senators for a 7:30pm puck drop.
