It has been a spotty season so far, with only a single win, but many opportunities. A number of the games have been played with a short bench, including a stellar effort against the first place team only three days prior to this outing against East Gwillimbury #2. This was another team caught up in the dogpile in the middle of the Simcoe Region Local League Midget division. NobleKing was also almost back to a healthy roster, now missing only a single player due to injury.
The teams fenced back and forth for much of the first period as the Knights gradually got their legs. NobleKing finally opened the scoring late in the period while killing a penalty. The team forced a turnover in the neutral zone, and Mitch Harknett scooped up the loose puck. A couple of nifty moves and the puck was in the back of the EG net with just over three minutes left in the opening frame.
The teams battled back and forth in the second period. Netminder Curtis Kozak was solid, turning aside EG opportunities, and NobleKing worked hard on the forecheck.
The score was still 1-0 as the third period began. Some excellent forechecking early in the frame hemmed EG in their own end. Jacques Berman worked hard behind the EG net, and the puck came loose to the right EG corner. Chris Maloney scooped it up and found Harknett at the far side of the EG crease. Maloney's pass made it through the EG defenders, and Harknett flipped the puck past the goaltender to give NobleKing a 2-0 lead with 13:28 remaining in the third.
Although NobleKing was finding their rhythm on the forecheck, they remained responsible defensively. Forwards were getting back to help out the defense, and EG did not have many chances to get set up. NobleKing struggled occasionally to clear the puck from their zone, but survived these lapses. They seemed to get stronger as the game went on.
The Knights kept up their strong pressure on EG. Grayson Koch was rewarded for his hard work around the EG net, jamming the puck into the right side of the EG goal with 8:30 left in the game. The Knights were now leading 3-0 - their largest lead of the season so far.
NobleKing had one more goal in the tank, as their pressure was again rewarded. Tyler Kozak was strong in the right corner, coming out of a scrum with the puck. He carried behind the EG net, passing back out into the slot. The puck was tipped away from its original recipient, but Greg Koncan had snuck in from the point to the hash marks, and put the puck behind the EG netminder with 5:53 left.
There was no further scoring, although some festivities erupted in the closing seconds. The final was 4-0, and Curtis Kozak earned his first shutout of the season. His play this year has been excellent.
This was a solid team effort start to finish, and the team was rewarded for their forechecking.
NobleKing continues to be strong on the penalty kill, going five for five during this game (although two of these penalties came in the closing seconds). For the most part, the team stayed out of the penalty box this game.
The Knights had a short-handed goal as well. They were unsuccessful on the power play in this outing.
The Knights are up next against Thornton #2, who are second place in the division. NobleKing has had some success against the leading teams, and this could be an interesting game.
Saturday, November 23, 2013
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