Burlington Invades Peterborough!
Okay, so it wasn't the most perfectly executed invasion. Burlington's bus rolled in 45 minutes late, their offence materialized 25 minutes late and their power-play is still missing in action. But the objective was achieved nonetheless as the Chiefs stumbled into the land o' lakes and limped away with two points.
It was a pleasure to return to the Evinrude Center. I love the raised seating area, the wide open ceiling and the great sound system. Unfortunately the announcer has not seen any improvement over the last year. I'm sorry for being cruel but this poor kid trips over his words like Dudley Moore on a dozen martinis.
Brian Croswell opened the scoring for Peterborough in the sixth minute of play. Three minutes later Duncan Ross was stripped of the ball at the top and Tristan Senior forwarded the ball to a breaking Scott Evans who raced to the Burlington net and managed to pick the short side despite the Chief defender hanging all over him.
Later in the frame, Brad Self appeared to break in alone but Chief Graham Sutherland put the hold on him from behind. The Chiefs killed the penalty which was probably a good one to take as it stopped a breakaway.
Save of the Game:
At one point Chuck Doxtater looked to have a sure goal for the Chiefs as he made a nice move in front and gave himself half the net to shoot at. But Jamie McIntyre stopped him with an amazing stick save. Doxtater would later be robbed on two more golden opportunities.
In the last half-minute of play Senior was called for four minutes in penalties giving Burlington an opportunity to erase the 2-0 deficit.
The period ended and Burlington coach Ted Sawicki immediately went after the officials to voice his concern over the self-resetting shot clock that had been causing an uproar at the Chiefs' bench. Referees Johnston and MacArthur didn't think it was a concern.
After one period the shots were even. The scoring could easily have been higher but both goalies were very solid. Peterborough's big guns were penetrating the defense regularly but they favored low under-handers from in close and Kevin Eansor had no trouble with them. At the other end Jamie McIntyre was stellar and looking like the early favorite for player-of-the-game. But that would change in a big way…
The second frame was downright sloppy. It started with the Chiefs on an utterly inept power-play for 3 minutes and 39 seconds. But after it was over, they would score seven consecutive times in less than 10 minutes.
Throughout the period the Lakers would continue to crash the crease but the majority of plays ended with either a wide shot or a crease violation.
After 24 minutes without a Burlington goal, new chief Kevin Dean intercepted what would have been a breakaway Laker pass and fed Sutherland who entered the Laker zone and passed off to Greg Tregunno on the wing. Tregunno scored from just inside the face-off circle and the flood gates opened.
Derrick Ledingham took a feed from Nathan Gilchrist, reached around the defender and threw a side-arm between McIntyre's legs. 2-2.
Jamie Taylor picked up a loose ball in the low corner, raced around the perimeter to the top and then penetrated the slot. He wound up and had everyone expecting the shot. Instead he dished to Merrick Thomson on the crease who caught McIntyre moving and jammed it in the far side.
Playing 4-on-4, Trevor Dubien set Tregunno up on a breakaway. "Cheeko" raced in, cut left and scored in the high right corner. McIntyre is not the tallest goalie around and appears to be one of the few goalies in the league wearing completely legal gear. He didn't seem to have a chance on this shot. The Chiefs took notice and would exploit that spot again and again.
With the Lakers on the man-up, Eansor made a save, captured the ball and fed Mike Daley for a short-handed breakaway. The Lakers would give up plenty of them this period, some thanks to poor line changes. Daley threw a nice fake and picked that top corner again. 5-2 Chiefs.
Laker Dan Carey took a checking from behind call and would serve only four seconds of it. The draw was in
Peterborough's end. Tregunno won it. Ross chipped it to Thomson who turned to the net and fired.
New Chief Jeff Hochhalter, playing a defensive role, scooped a loose ball in his own end. He dished to Timmy Cribb who bolted down the floor past the last defender and emulated Daley with the fake and the high corner shot. 7-2.
After 27 scoreless minutes for the Lakers, the drought would finally end, thanks in part to Mike Daley's habitual carelessness with his stick and in part to Peterborough's magical mystery clock. With Daley boxed on a high-sticking minor, The Lakers won the draw and enjoyed numerous chances but couldn't hit the net until Self nailed the power-play marker after a curious 45 second possession.
Two minutes later Greg McIntyre followed up with a much-needed late goal, pausing at the side of the crease, then sniping the far side with the reach-in shot. The frame ended 7-4 with the Lakers apparently back in the game.
At the intermission Sawicki was back at it with the refs, giving them a piece of his mind regarding the shot clock. This time they must have listened because early in the third period they whistled their own time violation when the clock didn't cooperate - and there were no further problems after that.
Sixty seconds into the third period Daley scored his second on a nice high one-timer.
Brian Croswell's high stick gave the Chiefs their fifth man advantage. Their failing power-play prompted a turn at bat for some new faces and Mike Dawson led a 3-on-1 rush down the floor. He fed Cribb who picked the high right side again. 9-4 Chiefs. 23 seconds later Daley completed the hat trick on another high quick-stick and McIntyre was finally chased to the bench in favor of Cole Murray.
With the Lakers short-handed again, Kerry Gillis took a feed from Chris White and followed Dan Carey on a lop-sided 2-on-1. He made a sharp pass to the closely guarded Carey who's quick shot landed just inside the far post.
Goal of the Game:
The Chiefs replied with their own short-handed marker. Taylor, ragging the ball was pinned against the boards by two Lakers. He somehow escaped despite a Ryan Sharpe neck-hold, drawing a delayed penalty call. Tails flew to the net where he collided with another Laker defender. He fell, reached up and beat Murray from his knees, negating the penalty.
Tregunno completed the hat trick, making it 12-5 Chiefs with eight and a half minutes to go. Scott Evans, on feeds from Self and Pat Quinlan, scored on the reach-in bouncer scarcely twenty seconds later. Sharpe, fed by Carey and Jesse Thomas, scored on a blast from the top. 12-7 and the Lakers were running out of time. Evans completed the hat trick on the power-play and would be named player-of-the-game by the Lakers.
This battle saw plenty of casualties. One poor Laker was "bagged" and left the floor howling. Chiefs' Duncan "Bonesavers" Ross was unable to live up to his nickname. He and his bones will be on the sidelines mending for the next month or so. Same goes for teammate Lee Stewart. Both were victims of the same wooden stick. I presume one chop was revenge for the bagging incident. The other I presume was just for fun. (Now remember boys and girls - Lacrosse is not nearly dangerous enough. That's why you should always go on the floor and intentionally try to hurt someone). Add Travis Zorrilla to the equation and the Chiefs are running dangerously low on right-handed shooters. Chuck Doxtater's arrival is timely indeed.
SCORING:
Chiefs: 0-7-5: 12
Lakers: 2-2-4: 8
SHOTS:
Chiefs: 12-18-12: 42
Lakers: 12-15-16: 43
POWER-PLAY:
Chiefs: 2 for 7
Lakers: 2 for 7
Chief Notes:
The Lakers could have easily scored more goals tonight but Kevin Eansor was terrific and his passing has come a long way. He tallied three helpers tonight. With nine assists in less than three games he may challenge for team assist leader! Young Merrick Thomson continues to fill the net. Sniper Tim Cribb only managed two goals tonight but everyone's entitled to an off night now and then. Loose ball leaders: Taylor, Cribb, Ledingham, Doxtater and Daley. I'm guessing the Chiefs will be working on their power-play at the next practice. Bonesavers' absence will hurt this team badly. It hurts the whole game of lacrosse when it loses one of its brightest young stars in such a stupid manner.
Next game at home, Friday vs. Peterborough again. This game is at Skyway arena - on Kenwood just north of Lakeshore.
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