MHKY | Voyageurs Sweep Weekend Series With Lakers
February 3, 2018
On Saturday night, the Voyageurs beat the Nipissing Lakers 4-3 in overtime for their second win in as many nights and placing them into sole possession of the eigth and final playoff spot.
The Lakers jumped out to an early lead at Steven Deeg beat Mackenzie Savard at 5:35 giving Nipissing a 1-0 lead. The Lakers followed that up a few minutes later when Dylan Staples scored at 11:12 to put the Vees down by a pair.
The second period only saw one goal scored. However, it was the Voyageurs who cut the Lakers' lead in half at 18:39 as Brent Pedersen scored with assists from Xavier Couture and Nicolas Dionne.
The action picked up in the final 20 minutes of regulation. Sam Gleason connected on the powerplay for Nipissing at 6:31 giving the Lakers a 3-1 lead.
The Voyageurs responded shortly after as Richard Therrien clawed the Vees back to within one. Tyler Shaw and Tyler Cooper assisted on Therrien's goal.
Pedersen then followed that up with his second of the game just over a minute later at 10:12 to tie the game at 3-3. Couture and Dionne assisted on the goal yet again. Pedersen's second would be the final goal of regulation time and both teams headed to overtime.
It was in overtime that Dylan Fitze sealed the deal for the Vees just before the buzzer. With twelve seconds to spare, Fitze beat Brent Moran on a 2-on-1 with Jacob Smith, while Caleb Apperson picked up the second assist on the winning goal.
With the win, the Voyageurs now sit in sole possession of the eigth and final playoff spot with 19 points on the season. The Vees will conclude the regular season with two big games, in Oshawa on Friday and at home against RMC on Saturday, as they look to return to the post-season.
Sam Brooks
Sports Writer