Photo Credit: Tim Prothero
Coming into Monday night’s game the Mann Cup was tied 1-1 in the Series as Victoria won game two 6-5 in double overtime to tie the series. Heading into game three Victoria were looking to build on their momentum and take a 21 series lead over the Six Nations Chiefs.
The Chiefs took the early lead in this game as Stephen Keogh scored five minutes into the first to put the Chiefs ahead 1-0. The Shamrocks would tie the game shortly after on the power play as Corey Small scored to make it 1-1. Neither team could gain sustained advantage in the first period as the score was 1-1 after the first period.
Victoria would take the lead early in the second as Chris Wardle scored for Victoria on the power play to put them in front 2-1. Six Nations would storm back as Jeff Shattler scored the first of five consecutive goals for the Chiefs as Shattler would complete his hat trick while Johnny Powless scored and Cody Jamieson each added a goal. The Chiefs were ahead 6-2. Victoria would cut the lead in half as Tyler Hass scored t make it 6-3. Six Nations would respond quickly as Cody Jamieson scored to extend the Chiefs lead to 7-3. Rhys Duch would score to keep the Shamrocks within striking distance as the score was now 7-4. Six Nations would once again answer back as Stephen Keogh scored his second of the game to extend the Chiefs lead to 8-4. As the second period came to close the Shamrocks turned on the jets as Rhys Duch and Karsen Leung score consecutively t make the 8-6 at the end of two periods of play.
In the third period Victoria quickly tied the game as Corey Small and Dhane Smith scored to tie the game at 8-8. The Chiefs would quickly take back their lead as Cody Jamieson and Colin Doyllescored to put the Chiefs in front 10-8. Victoria would tie the game back up as Small and Smith scored consecutively to tie the game at 10-10. With four minutes left in the third period Stephen Keogh put the Chiefs in front 11-10. The Chiefs tried to hold onto the one goal lead to secure the win but Rhys Duch scored to tie the game at 11-11. The two teams would be tied at the end of regulation as the Mann Cup headed to overtime for the second night in a row.
In overtime Scott Ranger scored to put the Shamrocks in front 12-11 and they would shutout the Chiefs in extra time to secure the win and the 2-1 series lead. Matt Flindell was stellar in net on Monday night making 36 saves. The Chiefs inability to put the Shamrocks away came back to haunt them as they had a four goal lead at one point but could not keep Victoria off the score sheet. If the Chiefs want to get back in the series they will need to be tighter defensively in order to defeat the Shamrocks.
