SmartStop Post-Game Recap – Back Home Tomorrow
SmartStop Post-Game Recap – Back Home Tomorrow
The Steelheads fall short in the final game of the road trip.
First Period
The Steelheads came into tonight’s matchup looking to add to some previously built momentum from their win over the Frontenacs this past weekend and clinch their playoff spot. Tonight’s game against the Peterborough Petes is a potential playoff preview, and marked the first meeting with former Steelhead Owen Beck.
The opening frame started with a frantic pace, with each team utilizing their speed and action going from end to end. The two teams also introduced themselves physically, notably, Steelheads forward Ryan Struthers threw a massive hit on the forecheck to set the tone for the game.
The Steelheads did a great job early to get sticks and bodies into shooting lanes, their defensive effort thwarted the Petes early. The Steelheads did not go without chances, as Luke Misa found himself alone in front of the Peterborough goal, however Liam Sztuska made the save.
At about the halfway point of the first period, the Petes seemed to turn up the pressure and had a flurry of opportunities on Steelheads netminder Ryerson Leenders. The poised rookie netminder made numerous stops, notably on former Steelhead Owen Beck, who had a dangerous offensive zone shift for his new club.
Intensity built between the two teams and some extracurricular activities ensued that led to a Steelheads power play. Despite not scoring, the Trout produced solid zone time on the man-advantage which seemed to shift the momentum of the game.
The Steelheads were able to flip the script on what were formerly lopsided shot totals in favour of the Petes. As time dwindled down in the first period, the Steelheads really put on the pressure, former Pete Jack Van Volsen had an opportunity off a 2-on-1 with Brice Cooke, however was turned aside.
The Steelheads were unable to solve the Peterborough netminder in the first period and the game entered the first intermission scoreless.
Shots on Goal – 13 PBO/16 MISS
Second Period
The second period started with a bang, as the two teams traded goals in the opening three minutes.
First, the Steelheads scored to open things up, as Van Volsen rifled a one-timer past his former team and gave the Trout a brief lead. Assists on the power play tally went to Kasper Larsen and James Hardie, whose assist was his 77th point of the season which tied his own franchise record for points in a single season.
It took Peterborough just 1:27 to respond, as Avery Hayes scored for the Petes to tie things up. Leenders did not have much of a chance on the goal, as Hayes came in all alone on a breakaway and picked his spot with perfect accuracy.
After the goal, the Steelheads continued to pressure the Petes, however were unable to solve the netminder despite firing plenty of pucks on target. Play was going back and forth and when called upon, Leenders made the necessary stops to keep things tied up.
The Petes received a power play around the halfway point of the period shifting the momentum for the home team. Under heavy pressure throughout the second it was Ryerson Leenders who was called upon to make some big saves.
With both teams battling, the Steelheads for a postseason berth and the Petes for home ice advantage, the physicality picked up towards the end of the period. Both netminders would shut the door for the rest of the second as the game headed into the final intermission all knotted up at one a side.
Shots on Goal – 18 PBO/15 MISS
Third Period
As the Steelheads started the third period shorthanded, the penalty killers headed to work and did a great job getting the team back to even strength. After each team was back to five players, the game settled down, as neither team wanted to make a mistake that led to a goal.
The Steelheads got themselves into more penalty trouble, and this time it proved lethal, as the Petes scored on the man advantage to take the lead. New York Rangers prospect Brennan Othmann pounced on a rebound generated by a point shot and jammed it home to give the Petes a 2-1 lead with 12:34 remaining in the final frame.
The Petes offense didn’t stop there, as Beck entered the Steelheads zone and unleashed a rocket of a shot over the left shoulder of his former teammate Leenders. The half-slapshot doubled the Peterborough lead and made the score 3-1.
It did not take the Trout long to respond to the Beck goal, as Lucas Karmiris scored just 24 seconds later to get the Steelheads back within one. Karmiris redirected a point shot by Kasper Larsen which fooled the Peterborough netminder to make it 3-2.
Unfortunately for the Trout, the offense kept coming, as Peterborough found themselves on a power play once again. Hayes secured his second goal of the game off a mid-air pass by Othmann which he batted out of the air past a sprawling Leenders.
Looking to respond, Steelheads Head Coach James Richmond pulled the netminder with 1:39 remaining in the period. The Trout were unable to gain puck possession in the offensive zone and Hayes scored into the empty net to secure his hat-trick and the win for the Petes.
Shots on Goal – 17 PBO/14 MISS
Total Shots – 47 PBO/45 MISS
Three Stars:
- Avery Hayes (3G, 1A)
- Brennan Othmann (1G, 2A)
- Liam Sztuska (43 SAV)
The Steelheads will get right back at it tomorrow when they take on the Barrie Colts in the inaugural Indigenous Celebration game! Fans can look for ward to the unveiling of specialty jerseys designed by local Indigenous artist Kory Parkin, with the game-worn jerseys being auctioned off in support of the 2-Spirited People of the 1st Nations. The jerseys can be purchased by clicking here, and tickets to the game can be purchased by clicking here.
