Dylan Vandersleen's second period power play goal was the game winner as the Dolphins improve to 11-5-1-0, second place in the Yeck Division behind the 12-3 Exeter Hawks.
"All in all it was a bounce back game. It wasn't pretty but we'll take after how we have played," Dolphins' head coach Mark Steele said. "A couple questionable calls and our penalty kill was not good. Our penalty kill percentage is really bad. Something we have to work on. I've used pretty much everybody on the kill, but it seems we're not communicating enough with our mouths to understand and recognize what the other team is doing."
The Sailors scored all four of their goals on the power play, going four for six in the game.
"That's our biggest problem right now. We're putting our team down because we're going to the box too much. We have to stay out of the box to give our team a chance," said Steele. "We persevered tonight and battled through some things, guys not finishing the game and juggling around."
The Dolphins held three one goal leads throughout the game only to see the Sailors knot the affair three times.
Curtis Nogueria's first goal as a Dolphin in to an empty net with 25 seconds remaining in the third period secured the win.
The Sailors lost for the 13th time in 16 games, but have displayed vast improvement over recent weeks including a win and tie against Exeter.
"This group has come a long way," Sailors' head coach Tanner Turley said. "We started the year, zero and a lot and we were losing games 6-0 and 8-1. It's nice to be in games and definitely see the progress from the boys game after game getting better."
Turley in his first year behind the Port bench took on a team full of new faces.
"We were almost a brand new hockey team at the start of the year. The kids didn't even know each other's names," Turley said. "Just takes time. The boys buying into the system is all it really is. We're coming together and finding our identity as a team. The boys are best friends now and we have a really good group of guys in that room. We're building on progress and it really shows and the boys are really happy."
Never owning a lead against the Dolphins posed a challenge.
"It's always tough battling from behind," said Turley. "It would nice to turn some of these close games in a couple of wins. The main thing heading towards playoffs is continue to see the progress we've seen throughout the year. We're working with the boys to show themselves as contenders and make them believe. It's been a long haul but we're getting there. We feel we can compete with anybody at this point."
Brayden Smith, Isaac Sturgeon and Isaac Boer-Hersh, completed the 'Phins' scoring. Ryan Poley collected three assists.
Trent Rickwood, with two goals, Devon Kaplanis and Andrew Gysbers, scored for Port. Gysbers ties Jordan Medeiros for the team lead with seven goals on the season.
Rickwood has three goals and two assists in his three games as a Sailor, since being aquired from the St. Thomas Stars.
Goalie Liam McCarthy was in net for the Dolphins for two periods for 20 saves, before Jackson Mailloux took over in the third period stopping all six shots he faced. WyattSloetjes made 38 saves in the Sailors' cage.
Dorchester had lost at Mt. Brydges, 2-1 in overtime, on November 26 and to the Thamesford Trojans, 5-4, on home ice November 28.
"We played good at Mt. Brydges. Slow out of the gate but dominated after that but we couldn't put the puck in the net," Steele said. "Then we did not play well on Sunday."
Isaac
Boer-Hersh with his first two goals of the season,
Quinn Wenger with his second and Oliver Sloan with
his first, scored for the Dolphins against the
Trojans.
Vandersleen had the 'Phins' goal at Mt. Brydges.
In Port Stanley's 1-1 draw with Exeter, Rickwood found the back of the net.
Dorchester hosts the Lucan Irish, Friday, December 3, at 7:30 p.m., followed by the Exeter Hawks, on Sunday, December 5, at 2:30 p.m.
The Sunday afternoon game is the Teddy Bear Toss. Fans are encouraged to wear ugly Christmas sweaters, Santa hats and other festive apparel for a chance to win prizes.
The Sailors have a home and home set with the Lucan Irish. First, on the road Saturday, December 4 and at home Tuesday, December 7.
rob@hometownplay.ca
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