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Excelsior's
can't complete comeback
Game 3 of the MSL finals took place
in Brampton on Wednesday night in front of a crowd
of close to 2000. Prior to the start of the game
the Mattamy Homes sponsored goaltending duo of Anthony
Cosmo and Brandon Miller received their second consecutive
Harry Lumley award for their phenomenal Goals Against
Average during the regular season. The Excelsior's
knew going into the game that it would take a similar
type performance if they were going to come out
with a win and the lead in the series.
Brodie Merrill put the home team
on the board first 2 minutes into the game. A scuffle
broke out during the ensuing face-off that saw both
teams lose 2 players, but Brampton's Cam Woods got
tagged with an additional 2 minutes in the altercation.
Dan Dawson would score the first marker as the teams
played 3 on 3, but Peterborough would then get their
first of the night and added the power-play goal
to bring the teams back to even. Captain Dan Teat
would score next for the Excelsiors but Peterborough
found an answer for that one less than 2 minutes
later to leave the teams tied at 3 a piece going
into the first intermission.
Brampton started the second period
on the power-play, but were unable to capitalize
on it. Peterborough drew first blood just 20 seconds
after the teams were back to even strength to take
their first lead of the game. Josh Sanderson would
score a beauty to tie the game up once again less
than a minute later, but Peterborough would rattle
off 3 more (the first coming on the power-play)
before the period had reached the halfway point.
Blaine Manning would blast one in with six minutes
to go, but another failed Excelsior power-play late
in the period would leave the score at 7-5 for Peterborough
to enter the final frame.
Colin Doyle would put one in from
a sharp angle to start the scoring in the third.
After killing off a power-play of their own, Brampton
would turn to Doyle again who drove hard to the
front of the net and put another one past O'Toole
to tie the game up with less than 8 minutes remaining.
Peterborough would take the 8-7 lead this time around,
as they scored their first of the period with 5:22
remaining and the Excelsior's would have to look
to return the favour that was done to them on Sunday
night. Unfortunately the Brampton offense continued
to struggle, seeming to be just inches and seconds
off on their timing, and despite having a 5 on 4
and then a 5 on 3 advantage in the closing minutes
of the game, they were unable to get the job done.
Peterborough would score a late breakaway goal (4
seconds remaining) to secure a 9-7 victory and 2-1
series lead.
There will be little time to reflect
as game 4 goes tonight (Thursday August 21st) in
Peterborough, and the Excelsior's will need to put
in a solid effort on both ends of the floor if they
hope to regain the home floor advantage that they
worked so hard to achieve during the regular season.
Game 5 will see the return to Brampton on Saturday
August 23rd at 7:00 PM where the Excelsiors hope
to extend their playoff drive and depending on tonight's
results, possibly take the lead in the series.
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