THUNDER BAY – If only they could erase the second period.
After scoring the equalizer in the final minute of the first period, the Lakehead Thunderwolves were unable to build on any momentum Spencer Blackwell’s goal might have brought.
Instead, the visiting Toronto Metropolitan Bold rattled off four straight goals to take a commanding 5-1 lead after 40 minutes and cruised to a 5-2 win in front of 2,204 fans at Fort William Gardens.
It wasn’t a pretty period, said LU coach Andrew Wilkins, his team caught on its heels for much of the period, not doing goaltender Christian Cicigoi any favours.
“It wasn’t a great period. I thought we just weren’t good enough. Honestly, I thought they were a little quicker, a little stronger on pucks. I thought we had some chances, but they were pretty quick to go the other way,” Wilkins said.
The two teams traded goals in the first.
Ian Martin opened the scoring on the power play at 5:54 of the first, taking advantage of an odd-man rush and burying the puck behind Cicigoi.
It appeared the Bold (2-5-0) would take a 1-0 lead into the second, but Spencer Blackwell had other ideas.
Blackwell picked the pocket of TMU defender Liam Ross and raced from his own blueline and ripped a shot short-side on Bold goaltender Ryan Dugas, evening the score with a minute to go in the opening frame.
Martin gave Toronto Metropolitan the lead for good at 6:11 of the second and just over two-and-a-half minutes later the Bold struck again, Jackson Doherty potting his first goal of the OUA season to make it 3-1.
The Bold would score back-to-back goals in under three minutes for a second time in the middle period. Mitch Lefay pounced on a Connor Bowie rebound for TMU’s fourth goal of the night and, 2:26 later, Matthew Kinash, who finished with a goal and two helpers, lifted the puck high on Cicigoi for a 5-1 advantage.
Lakehead plenty of chances to get back in the match in the third, but Dugas, who spent two seasons playing with the Ontario Hockey League’s Kingston Frontenacs, built a wall between the pipes and try as they might, the Thunderwolves couldn’t make it crumble.
Olivier Pouliot did manage to sneak one past Dugas early in the third, but he was perfect the rest of the way, even turning aside rookie Richard Whittaker on a mid-period breakaway chance.
Trentyn Crane and Nicolas DeGrazia also had great looks in the final frame, but couldn’t solve the Bold netminder, on two of the 12 shots directed his way in the third.
Wilkins said while disappointed with the result, his team falling to 3-2-1, he was happy with the effort put forth by his troops in the third, a confidence builder for Saturday night’s rematch.
“I just think that’s the way we’re going to have to play. We were fast, we were stronger on pucks. Maybe they let up a little bit as well, but it was some momentum we have to carry into tomorrow. We talked about it after the second,” Wilkins said.
“We still have four periods left. Obviously, it’s a really good team over that was desperate, but I thought they played really well. They were the better team.”
Game time Saturday night is 7 p.m.
Claw marks: On-ice officials issued four misconducts, two per team, when a scuffle broke out behind the Toronto Metropolitan net. Punches were thrown during the mini melee.
FIRST PERIOD
Scoring: 1. Toronto Metropolitan, Martin 1 (Portokalis, Raad) 5:54 pp. 2. Lakehead, Blackwell (L. Whittaker, R. Whittaker) 19:00. Penalties: Campbell LAK (holding) 3:28, Paul LAK (goaltender interference) 4:22, Gursoy TMU (unsportsmanlike conduct), R. Whittaker TB (roughing) 5:15.
SECOND PERIOD
Scoring: 3. Toronto Metropolitan, Martin 2 (Rupoli, Tanos) 5:54. 4. Toronto Metropolitan, Doherty 1 (Ross, Kinash) 8:50. 5. Toronto Metropolitan, Lafay (Bowie, Kinash) 14:22. 6. Toronto Metropolitan, Kinash (Gursoy, Condotta) 16:48. Penalties: L. Whittaker LAK (roughing, misconduct), Blackwell LAK (roughing, misconduct), Brand TMU (roughing, misconduct), Savard TMU (roughing, misconduct) 19:24, Murphy LAK (holding) 19:44.
THIRD PERIOD
Scoring: 6. Lakehead, Pouliot (R. Whittaker, Murphy) 2:25. Penalties: Bowie TMU (slashing) 12:45, N. Massie LAK (boarding) 15:37, L. Whittaker LAK (holding) 19:23.
GAME DATA – SOG – Toronto Metropolitan 14-15-7-36, Lakehead 7-14-12-33; Power plays (goals-chances) – Toronto Metropolitan (1-5), Lakehead (0-1); Goaltenders – Toronto Metropolitan: Ryan Dugas, Lakehead: Christian Cicigoi; A: 2,204.
