The Peterborough Century 21 Lakers took a commanding 3-0 series lead in their best-of-seven MSL semi-final series with a 12-11 overtime win on Saturday night at Iroquois Park Sports Centre.
Austin Hasen scored the game winner with 2:56 remaining in sudden death overtime with the Lakers on the power play. He had previously been stopped by Zach Higgins at the third-period buzzer. It was his second goal of the game.
“Credit to our whole offence,” Hasen said. “It’s been a committee from the beginning of the year to now. Any one of us can have a good night.”
It was a long (over 2.5 hours), rough-and-tumble game with 120 combined penalty minutes. Brooklin took 95 of those PIMs, none more key for the Lakers than Tanner Cook’s charging penalty in overtime. Three players were ejected for abuse of official penalties, and a fourth for a tussle with Joe Resetarits in the third period (Resetarits was also ejected).
The Lakers had an 11-7 lead late in the game, but Brooklin scored four goals in the final 2:22 to tie it.
Head coach Mike Hasen called the game "ugly."
"It was wild. We just, kinda, tired legs, tired minds, do some uncharacteristic things," he said. "They’re here to play, they’re here to win and they’re not going to go away. Thursday, we need to understand that they’re coming."
Turner Evans led the Lakers with a 10-point effort on three goals and seven assists. Owen Hiltz scored four goals and added one assist.
Landon Kells stopped 36 shots before leaving the game with 11 seconds left after experiencing severe leg cramps. Doug Buchan made two key saves in overtime. Kells hopped on one leg to the bench to be examined by trainer Josh Martin after Tanner Cook scored to tie the game at 11. Hasen expects Kells to be fine.
Cook led Brooklin with three goals and four assists. Higgins made 38 saves.
After playing three games in five days, the series takes a break until Thursday, August 8. The Lakers can wrap up the series in game four. Tickets are now on sale at the Memorial Centre box office.
“It’s good to have a little bit of a break until Thursday,” Austin Hasen said. “Everyone expects games to get tighter, rougher, so it’s fun, but we’ll have to take a couple days off to gather our bodies and get ready for Thursday because they’re coming out even hungrier.”
If necessary, game five will be played back in Whitby on Friday, August 9.
SCORING FOR THE LAKERS:
Owen Hiltz (4-1)
Turner Evans (3-7)
Thomas Hoggarth (2-1)
Austin Hasen (2-0)
Rob Hellyer (1-6)
Joe Resetarits (0-4)
Matt Gilray (0-2)
Colton Armstrong (0-1)
Colby Wood (0-1)
Alex Pace (0-1)
Scoresheet: https://gamesheetstats.com/seasons/6007/games/1871893
Site designed by PTBOCanada Digital Marketing Agency