It was a day where the Eastman Selects could have put a stamp on their season.  They could have sent out notice to the league and perhaps to themselves that they were in fact a talented group, a team that  had gotten it all together when it meant the most.  That they had overcome adversity and tons of injuries over the course of a tough season, and showed, over the course of a three game series that they were way better than their season record may have indicated.

The Interlake Lightning finished 20+ points ahead of the Selects in regular season play and were now fighting for their playoff lives against the Selects, who had battled through 2 double OT games to take this series to a 3rd and deciding game.  It all looked like the stars were aligning for the Selects as the Lightning starting goalie had succumbed to injury in the previous game, another one of their top players was also out due to injury and early in the first, yet another top player was lost due to a hit from behind penalty.

But, in an unfortunate turn of events, the Selects came out unlike both previous games.  They were super tentative, which led to many mistakes early, creating the perfect storm for the Lightning as they took full advantage and took a 3 - 0 first period lead only ten minutes in, scoring 2 on the powerplay.  The Lightning would take a 4 - 0 lead into the first intermission.  I'm sure both coaches reminded their respective teams that only two days prior, a team would comeback from being down 4.  Motivation for both sides, as it were.  The Selects would have to dig deep to comeback in this one.

The second started as did the first with tentative play that led to an early goal by the Lightning, just over a minute in. and then another two minutes later to take a 6 - 0 lead.  The Selects did put some fear back into their opponents as the Lightning took a slew of penalties and the Selects were able to capitalize with 3 powerplay goals of their own in a five minute span, to make it a 6 - 3 game and give the Selects some hope.  Goal scorers were Jonathan Kasdorf,  Dylan Hiebert and Troy Blad.  With all the momentum squarely in their corner and the Selects pushing the pace of play to the Lightning, yet another blow to the Selects chances ensued.  They took yet another untimely penalty late in the second and subsequently gave up a powerplay goal to give the Lightning a 7 - 3 lead going into the third period.  At this point of the game, the Selects had outshot their opponents 28 - 27.

In the third, the Lightning struck early once again, and the Selects had had the life sucked from them.  The Selects only registered 5 shots on goal in the third, where they would have needed 25 to push this game to another OT and to give themselves a chance at a comeback.  It was an unfortunate way for the Selects season to end.  Final score in this contest was 10 - 3. 

With only one graduating player from this season (Kevin Smith), the Selects will look to build on the positives from this season and put themselves into contention next season.

Wow!!!  In a game that saw the Selects play their best period of the year and take a 4 - 0 lead after 1, the crowd was also privvy to the worst 2 minutes and 14 seconds of the season, which saw the Selects give back all four goals and then found themselves down by 1 at 5 -4 with 8 minutes left in the second...  It was a rollercoaster ride that was not for the faint of heart.  Ultimately, the Selects got their act together and pulled off a 7 - 6 double OT thriller.

The game started off with tons of urgency as both teams looked to gain an edge in this contest.  At 17:57 of the first, Mistelbacher converted on a great pass from Riley Welsh who had created a 2 on 1 by blowing by the Lightning D man on a half pinch at the Selects blueline.  Five minutes later, at 13:02, on an offensive zone draw, Donovan Reimer converted on a quick play from Kasdorf and Tetrault.  Then at 8:26, Devon Schade scored a powerplay marker to put the Selects up 3 - 0 on a shot/pass from Hiebert (exactly the same goal as Wednesday night, it seems), which Schade tipped out of the air.  Then Reimer would score his second of the game, off a neutral zone draw on the Selects blue, the puck squirted loose, as the wingers battled for position, and Reimer busted through, drove wide and with a slick move to the net, popped it top cheddar on the Lighting tender.  He was then replaced by Davies (who was the starter in the previous game in Gimli) with the Selects up 4, with 5:33 left in the first.  As great as it was to see all three lines get involved in the scoring, it should be noted that Tanner Friesen was also peppered in the first as the Selects were outshot 16-14.  He made some big saves for his team and kept the Lightning at bay.

The second started with the Lightning attempting to show some push back.  The Selects weathered the storm for the first 5 minutes, but then took a penalty and were promptly scored on, 9 seconds into the Lightning powerplay at 14:36 and momentum swung wildly in their direction.  The Selects gave up a goal 36 seconds later.  A time out was called to settle the boys down and the next line promptly gave up another goal, 19 seconds later... and then, a minute and 9 seconds later, the Lightning had completed the comeback, tying the game at 4, at 12:22 of the second.  In just over 2 minutes, the Selects had given away the lead, and things looked pretty grim.  Then, if things weren't bad enough for the Selects, they took another penalty which the Lightning gladly converted on, given them the lead 5 - 4. Miner would then replace Friesen between the Selects pipes, if for no other reason then to try to swing momentum back into the Selects favour.  The Selects would stop the bleeding and push back, but were not able to tie it up in the second.  The Lightning outshot the Selects 17-10 in the second.

The Selects could have easily folded like a cheap lawnchair in the third, but to their credit, they came out like their season was on the line (which it obviously was).  Just over 2 minutes in, at 17:47 of the third, the Selects tied it up on a goal by Tetrault, on a rebound (shot by Lenchyshyn) which was lying in the crease.  Then the Lightning were on their heels and showed their own lack of composure, as they took a 4 minute spearing penalty.  From there, the Selects took the lead back at 6 -5, on a goal by Mistelbacher at 14:13, his second of the game, on the powerplay, on a scramble in the crease.  The assists went to Welsh and Anthony.  The Lightning tender would be hurt on the play and was pulled for the original starter. The Lightning would tie it up less than 2 minutes later on an unfortunate bounce/play at our blue line, which created a 3 on 1.  But the Selects forged on, hustled and had numerous chances to end the game in regulation.  Time elapsed and the game was tied at 6.  Selects had outshot the Lightning 15 -3 with their season on the line.

In OT, the Selects directed everything at the net, firing pucks from everywhere, as the Lightning tender seemed to be bobbling everything in his crease, but the puck didn't go in for the Selects in the first OT.  A second OT period would be required.  The Selects gave it their all in OT and were finally rewarded as Jared Magne was the hero, scoring the winner top shelf, on the powerplay, on a pass by Devon Schade and Dylan Hiebert who had  made an excellent play at the blue to keep the puck in and get it to the middle.  The Selects live to fight another day...

As was the case on Wednesday night, the game could have gone either way in the end...  The Selects won the specialty teams battle which so often determines tight checking games in the playoffs. The Selects went 3 for 8 on the powerplay, including the OT winner,  compared to 2 for 5 for the Lightning.  That edge would give the Selects the slim margin they needed to eke one out in OT.  The Selects outshot the Lightning 54 - 48 in this contest. 

Game three goes tomorrow in Teulon at 1:30pm.  Here's hoping the Selects can play as they did in the first period of last night's contest for the entire 60 minutes, or 75 as has been the case in the first 2 games of this tightly contested battle.  The Selects won the battle on Friday night, time to win the war on Sunday afternoon, behind enemy lines...

 Best of luck Selects!