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Excelsior's
Send a Strong Message
In the 2007 Finals the Excelsior's
were unable to secure a victory in the confines
of the Powerade Centre which proved to be the difference
in that series. In 2008 the only 3 losses that Brampton
had were all at home. After securing home floor
advantage throughout the playoffs, the Excelsior's
would have to get that monkey off their backs. In
game 1 of the MSL finals they did that and gave
the monkey a couple of whacks for good measure.
Less than 2 minutes into the game
Peterborough opened up the scoring and scored again
3 minutes later to take an early 2-0 lead. Brampton's
Captain Dan Teat would bring the team closer with
a power-play marker at the halfway point of the
period, but Peterborough would answer quickly to
regain their margin. Teat would score another before
the period was out to set the score at 3-2 for the
first intermission.
The tides would turn in the second
period. Jeff Shattler would blast one home to tie
up the game on Brampton's first possession of the
second period, and Dan Teat would complete his hat-trick
on the very next possession to get Brampton the
lead. It was not a lead they were willing to surrender.
Eight minutes into the period Cam Woods would streak
down the floor and make no mistake to give the home
team a 2 goal lead. Mike Carnegie would add his
3rd goal of the post season at the 10 minute mark
before Peterborough would answer with a transition
goal of their own. The second period would end with
the Excelsior's up 6-4.
Josh Sanderson scored his first
of the night 5 minutes into the third period. Peterborough
responded less than a minute later, but the Excelsior
defense was not going to allow anything else after
that point. After another marker from Sanderson
and one from Wilson, Peterborough decided it was
time to check Anthony Cosmo's equipment. Cosmo tested
clean and Brampton made them pay with Josh finishing
off a hat trick of his own on the ensuing power-play.
Dan Dawson added to the lead with fewer than 2 and
a half minutes left and Peterborough once again
called for a check on Cosmo. Anthony passed again,
and the Excelsior's were content to cruise to an
11-5 victory.
Brampton knows that 1 game is nothing
but a good start in what could prove to be a very
hard fought best of 7 series and now shift their
focus to Game 2 in Peterborough this Sunday night
at 7:00. The Excelsior's return to the once again
friendly confines of the Powerade Centre for game
3 of the series on Wednesday August 20th. Game time
is set for 8:00.
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