Feb 02, 2016 | dhouse | 1692 views
OMHA Series vs. Ayr
OMHA Series vs. Ayr
Game 1
Ingersoll - A highly anticipated matchup between the Express and the Ayr Flames was finally here. Ayr opened the scoring when they scored midway through the second period. Trailing 1-0 in the third Ingersoll went on the power play and Owen Longlade (Tye House & Max Branderhorst) was able to bang away the tying goal. With seven minutes left in the game Benham Martin (Brodee Nurse & Max Branderhorst) made an attempted pass out to the front of the net that redirected off the goalies skate right in the net. The Express defense was spectacular again holding off any Ayr offensive attack giving the Express the 2-1 victory.
Game 2
Ayr - Moving the series to Ayr for Game 2, both teams started where they left off in Game 1. Like two Heavyweight Prize Fighters both teams were not looking to lower their guard and give anything away. After the first ten minutes of play the score remained 0-0. In the second frame the momentum began to shift in favor of the Express as Max Branderhorst picked up a loose puck in the Express defensive zone and zipped a stretch pass to Tye House who carried the puck into the offensive zone then sliding behind the Flames net to find a streaking Adam VanDyk crashing the net who one-timed a shot past the keeper. The Flames pressure in the third period began to take its toll on the young Express team as they benefitted from two goals of their own in the third period to even the series at one game apiece. Carter Spence turned aside 20 shots in the losing effort.
Game 3
Ingersoll - With the series all squared away at 1-1 the rubber match in Ingersoll would give the winning a strong advantage for closing out the series. Ayr was the first team to strike after a defensive giveaway they roofed a shot over Spence's glove hand. Ingersoll was given a power play opportunity that they controlled the entire sequence when after a few failed scoring opportunities occurred Max Branderhorst (Joel Verspeeten & Owen Longlade) banged in the equalizer. Ayr countered as they were able to tuck one behind a sprawling Spence. The Flames lead was short lived when Tye House stole the puck in the neutral zone to create a 2 on 1 chance, House feathered a pass over to Branderhorst who snapped it past the Flames goalie. Early in the third Cohen Belore (Brodee Nurse & Evan Hopson) banged home a loose puck in front of the net to give the Express a 3-2 lead. A forced giveaway in the neutral zone allowed the Flames to score the tying goal as they were able to tuck a tight shot past the Express keeper. Both teams traded opportunities in the final minutes but the game was forced into OT. Both teams fought hard and played tight not giving up much, and what they did give up both goalies made spectacular saves to bail their teams out. Just under two minutes left the Ayr forward skated along the wall and managed to get a step on the Express defense then shot a shot past the Express goalie for the OT winner. Spence made 27 saves in the loss.