In a seven game series no team wants to drop 3-0, especially not when returning to the other team’s arena, and definitely not when that opponent happens to be the Peterborough Lakers. That’s why it could be said the MSL finals, game three in Six Nations would be a must-win for the Chiefs. A side storyline to the series has been in net for the Chiefs. Head coach Rich Kilgour has used Mike Poulin and Brandon Miller almost equally throughout the post-season. In game three, Miller would get the start along with Peterborough’s newest offensive threat Tyler Carlson.
(Writer’s Note: when a goaltender scores, you have to milk it for all it’s worth. When it’s a goal that puts him ahead of at least one regular player in points and goals, you get to call him a offensive threat)
As discussed, Six Nations would need a quick start, and inevitably, a win but it would be Scott Evans opening the scoring for Peterborough, a mere twenty-nine seconds into the game. Unanimous MSL rookie of the year Alex Hill got it back seventy seconds later, a goal which sparked a four goal run for the Chiefs (the other three coming ninety-eight seconds apart). The second half of the period belonged to the Lakers as they scored three to end the frame, including a powerplay marker from Shawn Evans. The goal tied the score at four and that’s where the period would end.
The first was a chippy one, as has been the entire series. Three different pairs of players were sent off for offsetting minors, including two penalties for slashing in the final minute to Stephen Keogh and Tyler Carlson. When the second began, John Tavares would break the deadlock just past the three minute mark. His goal was followed by teammate Cory Vitarelli and later, Shawn Evans’ second of the game to pull Peterborough ahead 7-4. The goal would spell the end of the night for Brandon Miller as Mike Poulin would take over. The Chiefs immediately responded as they scored in forty-three seconds to kickstart a four goal run to end the period. Again, the final three goals of the rally came in quick fashion, this time separated by 1:48 on the clock. Six Nations would lead 8-7 after two periods.
Mike Poulin saved all five shots he faced in the second half of the second period, but he couldn’t stop Tracey Kelusky from scoring the equalizer early in the third with a four on three advantage. Matt McLeod would pull the Chiefs ahead again, but Matt Giles would again pull Peterborough even, although it took eight minutes to do so. Poulin continued to make saves to keep his team in it, and they finally paid off as Six Nations not only took the lead, but they would score three to end the game and win 12-9.
Four players were sent off with six seconds to play as things heated up again. Don’t forget, these two teams faced each other in the playoffs last year and it ended with Billy Dee Smith jumping into the Lakers’ bench as the physical play reached its climax in that series. There’s no way these two teams are done hating each other just yet.
Shawn Evans led all scorers with four points (two goals, two assists) while teammate Tracey Kelusky came in with three points (two goals, one assist). Jordan MacIntosh has been stellar at the faceoff dot all season for Ajax and Peterborough but on Tuesday night he went just three for twenty-one, as the team dropped nineteen faceoffs. On the other side, Sid Smith led the Chiefs winning fifteen of seventeen faceoffs. Poulin picked up the win making sixteen saves off eighteen shots in just over thirty minutes. Carlson did not register a save in the first, and just sixteen for the night off twenty-eight shots while he took the loss.
The Lakers still lead the series two games to one and will host game four on Thursday night. That game will be webcast live by JVI Productions and will feature highlights of this game during intermissions. Visit www.webcast-sports.com to order the show and to watch.
