Win helps Legionnaires lengthen lead over London

Updated 1 hour ago

DAVE PAUL

The Observer

The Sarnia Legionnaires now lead the GOJHL Western Conference standings by four points, following a 7-5 win over the London Nationals, Thursday at Sarnia Arena.

The Nationals, who entered the contest trailing the Legionnaires by just two points, could have pulled into a first-place tie with Sarnia, with a victory. Instead, they are now trailing the Legionnaires by four while Sarnia still has two games in hand.

The Legionnaires came out of the gates on fire, Thursday night, got into some penalty trouble in the second period, then almost lost a big lead in the third, before hanging on to win the game.

Sarnia led 5-1 after the first period on a pair of goals by Derek D'Andrea and singles by Tyler Cicchini, Evan Dixon and Brent Sauve.

London's Aaron Dartch scored the only goal of the second period on a two-man power play to make it 5-2.

The Nationals' Paul Hopkins then scored two goals, 37 seconds apart before the four minute mark of the third to make things far more interesting than the Legionnaires fans had expected, or wanted them to be.

But Sarnia was able to stem the tide and eventually get momentum back on their side for most of the third period.

Finally, at 18:23, Sauve scored his second goal of the night to seemingly give Sarnia some breathing room, with a 6-4 lead.

However, with London goalie Jacob Riley pulled for an extra attacker, Hopkins completed his hat trick for London, with just nine seconds left on the clock, to get the Nationals back within one goal.

But the Legionnaires won the draw, flipped the puck into the Nationals zone, and with just one second left to play, Sauve completed his hat trick to ice the game for Sarnia.

Legionnaires coach Dan Rose said he was very pleased with the way his team played.

"Obviously we came out very strong. We had a great first period. ... We let up a bit in the second," in large part due to a rash of penalties, said Rose, "but I didn't think they were undisciplined penalties."

Still, said Rose, the momentum shifted, in part because of the London power plays, "but we got it back and finished well.

"This league is all about momentum," said Rose, adding London was coming off a loss and "clearly didn't want to drop two in a row."

Rose said the Legionnaires might have tired a bit, as the team was playing, essentially, with only three lines.

Rose highlighted the work of Sauve, Nathan Mater and Shawn Waldie, who, said Rose, "it has been a pleasure to coach this season."

Mater finished the game with three assists while Waldie had two.

Beating London was important, said Rose, because it gives the Legionnaires some breathing room in the standings.

"We still have one third of the schedule left to play, but it feels good to be sitting where we're sitting right now," said Rose.

However, he added, he thinks the field is pretty even, when it comes to handicapping the league's best teams.

"London's a good team ... but I still like Chatham, Leamington's got a nice team, St. Thomas is good," said Rose. "I even think LaSalle is dangerous, although they're at the bottom of the standings.

"There really isn't any, one, team that you would say you would want to play in a playoff series," added Rose.

Thursday's game also saw the return of defenceman Anthony Donati to the Legionnaires lineup. Although the team is starting to get healthier, Rose said they will be looking to add a player or two to the roster during the next week.

"We're looking to add one, or possibly two, forwards, said Rose, who also speculated the Legionnaires might not be getting Justice Dundas back.

"It's just our gut feeling," said Rose, "that the way the Sting are making trades, he might be heading (to the OHL) to stay."

The Legionnaires will be in Lambton Shores to take on the Predators on Friday night. Game time is 8 p.m.

Notes:

? Sarnia outshot London in all three periods and had a 48-30 edge, overall.

Kyle Washer got the win, in goal for Sarnia.

Source: http://www.theobserver.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3426851

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