by Romano Di Franco
The Nepean Raiders played out the second game of their season ending four game home stand by hosting the Pembroke Lumber Kings. Nepean came off a 6-4 barnburner loss to the Rockland Nationals whereas Pembroke was blown out by a final score 6-2 against the Navan Grads. For the starting goalies, Otsirakatste Brant who was superb last week which was also against the Lumber Kings got the nod in goal for the Raiders. Also, Michael Modelski who was in goal in that aforementioned game got the start here.
Pembroke scored the first two goals from Jayson Alegria and Dean Carvalho. Not only was in Alegria’s 47th goal of the season, but both goals came on the powerplay. Nepean had a wonderful chance to jam one behind Michael Modelski with Peter Freel at the side of the net, but the Pembroke goalie was able to hold on to the puck to hang on with one minute and twenty one seconds to go in the frame.
Despite Pembroke outshooting Nepean 17-8 in the first period, Otsirakatste Brant did not allow anything else in the period to keep the score at 2-0.
The Raiders would respond fifty seconds in the second period on a goal from Tyler Smith. It was his eleventh goal of the season and that one was assisted from Spencer Thompson and Luke Benoit. Benoit’s assist was the ninth time in the last ten games he has had at least a point.
Although the Lumber Kings outshot the Raiders 9-8 in the second period, Otsirakatste Brant did not allow any goals in the second period.
This trend of Brant making spectacular saves continued in the third period and that even included when he made a big save on Liam Cardiff going five hole. Pembroke scored the last two goals Nikita Ushakov and Liam Cardiff respectively.
For the three star selection, with one goal and two assists in the game Liam Cardiff earned the first star honors, having made thirty two saves in the game it was Michael Modelski that was given the second star for the Lumber Kings. Last but not least, Tyler Smith who scored his eleventh goal of the season was named the third star of the game for the Nepean Raiders.
Their next game will be held on Sunday March 9th, when the Hawkesbury Hawks come to town. Having split the results in the previous four games, Nepean is looking to clinch the regular season series as a whole.
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