March 5th

Islanders Lose Round Two Opener in Double OT

The Islanders struggled in their opening game of round two. Playing against the Oceanside Generals, the Isles are striving to win the northern division and play against the South for the VIJHL championship. The game started with hard hits flying from both teams. Penalties were given to both teams over the course of the period, with Kerry Park in control of play. The Generals marked the first goal of the game on a cross crease pass from a 2 on 1. Oceanside wasn’t going down easy, and Matt Young was forced to make some remarkable saves before the period was over. Oceanside got a breakaway and the crowd went silent just before he shot the puck high over the net.  The Generals then registered their second goal of the game on a weak shorthanded goal that just slid past the toe of  Young’s right pad.  With seven minutes left in the period, Jordan Grant scored for the Islanders on a rebound shot. One minute later Travis Peters tipped a point shot from Jamieson that went over the Oceanside goalie’s left pad.  Kerry Park kept their level of play high, and Posey scored on a rebound from Young to give the Islanders the lead.

The second period started with play as fierce as the first. Wayne Twan almost sent a General over the Islander’s bench with a hit and the Islanders kept control for the first five minutes of the game.  The momentum shifted as the Isles took several penalties. Oceanside tied the game with a quick shot off the faceoff that beat Young. Kerry Park received a too many man that resulted in a 1:07 five on three for Oceanside that the Islanders killed. With just under ten minutes left in the period, Mike Posey made a beautiful tip that directed the puck through the goalie’s five hole. Oceanside then received a hitting from behind penalty. The Islanders fifth goal was scored by Travis Peters on a delayed penalty after fighting through half the Oceanside team in front of their net. With big hits being thrown around and rough play, the Islanders still left the period leading 5-3.

Oceanside started the third period testing the Islanders defenders. Four minutes in, the Generals pulled within one, when a rebound slid under Young’s pad. A minute later Young redeemed himself with a remarkable glove save on a shot from a 2 on 1. Oceanside tied the game when Young lost his stick and a shot from up close beat him. The Islanders fought back setting up several scoring plays which bore fruit with 2 minutes and 23 seconds left, as Peters buried a pass from behind the net, assisted by Young and Posey. With 1:58 left in the game,, the ref gave the Islanders a bench minor, and Oceanside called a time out to pull their goalie. The Generals scored their sixth goal on a cross crease pass to the empty side of the net tying the game.

Overtime started with Young making a big save on an Islander’s giveaway. Oceanside then received a bench minor, but the Islanders made no headway. After a timeout by Kerry Park, the Islanders regained control over the game and began generating scoring chances. An Oceanside player almost got a breakaway coming out of the penalty box, but missed the puck. The Islanders and Oceanside traded shots with both goalies making saves to keep their teams playing into a second overtime frame.    

Twan opened double overtime with a big chance. The Islanders kept the pressure on, and Young remained consistent in net. Bertuzzie flattened a General in the corner - inspiring both the Islanders and the crowd. Peters had a huge chance on a pass from Young, but didn’t manage to bury it. Seven minutes in to the second overtime, Oceanside clinched the win on a 2 on 1, beating Young on the blocker side.

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