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Stars lose 4-3, in 2OT

 Stars give away crucial point

 

   Leamington comes back with 4-3 win in double overtime

Friday, January 26, 2018

 

  • Stars fall in 2OT


 

By Rob J. Ross 

ST. THOMAS - It was a crucial point given away.

The St. Thomas Stars lost 4-3 in double overtime, after a two goal lead escaped them, to the Leamington Flyers, a team they're battling for second place, in the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League Western Conference.

With the Stars up 3-1, the Flyers used the man advantage twice to pull even.

Dalton Langlois scored 1:55 into the three on three second overtime period.

Leamington (24-10-4-2) moves into sole possession of second place, two points up on both LaSalle (25-13-1-1) and Sarnia (23-12-1-5) and now six points ahead of St. Thomas (23-13-2-2).

"It's a tough one. A learning experience hopefully. I'd rather a tie than this loss," Stars head coach Darren Kelly said "We had a game plan coming in and we played a pretty good first two periods. We were up 3-2 going into the third period."

Jake Robinson's second goal of the game and Adam Keyes, with this 20th goal of the season, arrived 20 seconds apart, seven minutes in to the second period, for a 3-1 lead.

Leamington's Griffin Robinson opened the scoring 50 seconds into the middle period and pulled the Flyers to within one, striking on the power play. Griffin completed his hat trick in the third frame during another man advantage.

 "Our third period was kind of a mess. We let guys in behind us on three breakaways. Our defence, I know they're young, but they have to understand. I told them before the period to look for that breakaway pass," said Kelly, not happy about the defensive coverage in overtime either.

"The game should have been over earlier. Leamington had three empty nets they could have scored on. Our goalie stood on his head. Hurty (Anthony Hurtubise) played well. Our guys were curling away instead of stopping and picking up a man. Three on three is man on man. In overtime you have to play man on man and if you don't take man on man you look out of position, you look like you don't know what you're doing. We cheated too much and we gave them the win."

Overall, the Flyers out shot the Stars, 44-37.

Leamington's power play also had the advantage. The Stars came up empty on four opportunities, including one while leading 3-1. The Flyers pulled to within one goal after a debatable too many men call.

"Our guy was off the ice. It's unfortunate and then they score a power play goal," said Kelly.

It is second time in the past three games, the Stars have given up two power play goals in a game. A penalty kill once ranked second in the entire GOJHL, has slipped to 10th.

Keyes is on a five game point streak, with four goals and four assists. Jake Robinson had his third consecutive two point game.

Defenceman Eric Langridge missed the game, out with mono.

The Stars have six days off before heading to Chatham, on February 1 and hosting London, on February 2.

 

 

 

 


        rob@hometownplay.ca