Jan 08, 2013 | cmckee | 844 views
Reps Rally to Win Final Regular Season Game
On Sunday night, the Reps fought back from a 4-2 deficit after two periods in Mitchell to pull out a 5-4 win, to finish out the regular season with a 11-4-1 record.
Pulling even with 4 minutes to play, a late rush potted the winner with just 16 seconds remaining in the game.
After being down 2-0, the Cycs finally got on the board late in the second period on a goal from sure handed Tyler Hak, on the power-play. Assists went to Justin Miller and Cory Wilson. Only a minute and a half later, Connor Johnson finished off a 2 on 0 break-away, which started with a heads up pass from Brendan Hall to Andrew Gooding.
However, 17 seconds later, Mitchell notched their third goal. They would add another with 2 seconds left on the clock, to take the 4-2 lead into the dressing room.
The Reps took over in the third period, creating too many scoring opportunities for the Hawk squad to handle. The biggest momentum shift came off a penalty shot save by Steven Gottfried, to keep his team within striking distance.
Johnson notched his 2nd of the game, with assists going to Jacob Askin and Drew McKee. Alex Balthes out skated three Hawk players, then slapped home a short-handed goal, to tie things up. Assists on the play went to Hak and Buchanaan. McKee then narrowly missed on a break-away, during the same penalty kill.
Hak would then set up the game winner, as he took a long pass wide, and then set up Gooding in the slot. Mike McMurran earned the other assist, getting the puck out of the Listowel end.
On Saturday night, the Cycs suffered a 6-4 loss to the Wingham.
From the opening face-off, the Reps could not figure out the Ironmen goalie, which seemed to be invisible yet unbeatable.
The Reps lead 2-1 after the first period, with goals from Johnson and Gooding, and assists going out to Kyle Sippel, Miller, McKee, and Joel Hartung.
The Ironmen took a 4-2 lead into the dressing room, with three markers in the second period.
The Reps fought back to tie the game up at 4-4, with goals from Hak and Matt McCracken. Assists went out to Riley Conners, Wilson, Riley Thompson, and McMurran.
However, the Wingham squad kept attacking, and took the lead 5-4 on a delayed penalty.
They would then add an empty netter, to make the final 6-4. Drew Anger suffered the loss in the Listowel net.
The Reps will now take on Walkerton in the first round of playoffs, with the winner facing off against the winner of Goderich and Kincardine.