In an intense and action-packed contest between the South Esk Scotsmen and the Miramichi Moose, it was the Scotsmen who emerged victorious, securing a 3-2 win after extra time in a game that saw a late rally from the Moose fall just short. A thrilling overtime goal by Lucas Raymond completed a dramatic finish, giving South Esk the win and pushing their unbeaten streak to three games.
First Period: A Strong Start for South Esk
The game began with South Esk coming out of the gate hot, testing Miramichi goalie John Gibson early. The Scotsmen fired off 11 shots in the first, while the Moose could only muster 7 shots. Despite the early pressure, it took until the 9:04 mark for South Esk to break the deadlock. David Pastrnak, with help from Lassi Thomson and Pavel Zacha, opened the scoring, putting the Scotsmen up 1-0.
South Esk would add another late in the period at 18:22 when Elias Pettersson converted a perfect pass from Alexander Alexeyev and Kirby Dach. This gave the Scotsmen a solid 2-0 lead heading into the second intermission.
Second Period: A Quiet Middle Frame
The second period saw no scoring, though it wasn’t for lack of effort. Both teams traded chances, but the goaltenders stood tall. Yaroslav Askarov of South Esk, who finished with 24 saves on 26 shots, continued his strong play, keeping Miramichi at bay. John Gibson of the Moose, despite facing 39 shots, also stood firm, making 36 saves, but the defense in front of him had no answer to the relentless Scotsmen attack.
South Esk failed to capitalize on three power-play opportunities in the middle frame, including a chance after Miramichi’s Joe Veleno received a five-minute major for head-butting. Despite the man advantage, the Scotsmen were unable to add to their lead.
Third Period: Moose Fight Back
The Moose, trailing by two, came out with renewed energy in the third period. Just 5:14 into the frame, they got on the scoreboard thanks to a power-play goal from Thomas Harley, assisted by Simon Holmstrom. With the score now 2-1, Miramichi found themselves right back in the game.
The Moose continued to press, and at 10:49, Marco Rossi tied the game at 2-2, with help from Quinton Byfield and Mason McTavish. The Moose had completed their comeback, sending the game into a tense final stretch.
With time winding down, both teams traded penalties, and while South Esk had a few late opportunities, including a power-play chance, the game would be decided in overtime.
Overtime: Raymond Wins It for South Esk
Overtime saw South Esk quickly capitalize on their chances, as Lucas Raymond netted the game-winner at 7:03. Raymond, assisted by Jake Sanderson and Trevor Zegras, found himself in the perfect spot to finish a scramble in front of Gibson. His shot sailed past the Miramichi goalie, sending the South Esk bench into a frenzy and securing the Scotsmen’s 3-2 win.
Key Players
The game’s first star was South Esk’s Alexander Alexeyev, who logged an assist on Pettersson’s goal and was a steady force throughout the game with five shots on goal and a plus-one rating. South Esk goalie Yaroslav Askarov earned the second star, maintaining composure and making crucial saves when his team needed him most. Elias Pettersson, who scored South Esk’s first goal, rounded out the top three stars with a solid performance.
For Miramichi, Thomas Harley and Marco Rossi played key roles in the comeback effort, each scoring a goal, but ultimately the Moose couldn’t find the finishing touch in overtime.
Final Thoughts
It was a game of momentum swings, with South Esk jumping to a 2-0 lead, Miramichi fighting back to tie things up, and then the Scotsmen showing resilience in overtime. Despite a strong performance by Gibson, the Moose couldn’t hold off South Esk’s pressure in the extra period. The win keeps South Esk rolling, while Miramichi will be left to wonder what could have been after a valiant effort that ultimately fell short.
Attendance: 15,000
Net Profit: $75,000.00
12/2/2024 - 667 words
