Jan 10, 2020 | Rich McNeil | 201 views
Game #4 I.S.S A epic battle to the final buzzer...
Back on the QEW to the Gale Center where we started the playoff round format. We were guaranteed this game regardless, the only thing on the line was which squad would get the home bench. Our boys did win their pool with a 1-1-1 record, thus setting up a match with the San Jose Jr. Sharks. They brought a 1-2 record into this game, with a very similar stat line as our Express boys. On paper it seemed like it was going to be a barn burner, and that is exactly what we witnessed.
Between the pipes for the Ingersoll Express, wearing their home whites was Tanner Belore, who played an exceptional game yesterday during a hard fought 2-2 tie vs the Strathroy Rockets. This game was a penalty filled contest, with 11 minors called an 1 double minor. It was evident early that the Sharks were going to try to impose their physical will on us, so the boys had to be set for that. They seemed a little overwhelmed at first, but once the flow of the game got going, we settled in to our usual blue collar style of hockey. Both squads had to kill penalties in the first period, but the period ended with no scoring.
In the second, it looked like we had taken the lead as Owen Clarke slid one past the Sharks goaltender, but the referee called it back saying it did not cross the line. Both teams took turns playing short handed, but either team could score, with Belore making some big saves in that frame, as we headed to the third period, still scoreless.
After much anticipation, the Express finally tallied, as Owen Clarke buried a feed from Alex Stratton to give us the lead, one that we knew was not comfortable, as the Sharks showed they had lots of size and lots of speed. Our entire team did a great job blocking lanes and keeping them to the outside, but a couple of times, they had glorious scoring chances that Belore just shut the door. Penalties were still a plenty, as San Jose, kept shooting themselves in the foot taking unnecessary trips to the sin bin, not allowing them to gain any momentum. These trips to the sin bin finally cost the California kids as Jeremy Stiles buried the puck past the netminder, off a great pass by Taylor Murray with 5:08 to give our boys a little breathing room. San Jose had no quit in them as they continued to press and finally broke free and beat Belore with 1:03 left to get within one. With their goalie pulled for the extra attacker, the Express desperately tried to clear our zone, but could not, some great blocks, and a couple of mad scrambles in front of Belore, we were finally able to clear the zone. With us heading the other way, San Jose took one more penalty for body contact, sealing their fate and ending their run. A hard fought, exciting win for the Express, and now have a date with the London Bandits in the semi-final tomorrow. Good Luck Boys!!