Phillips, Shudra, Crowe and Norton were all missing from the starting line up. Warburton was starting netminder with Winters from the scimitar’s stepping in as back up.
A tentative start from Sheffield and a couple of turnovers gave Solway with a dream start and the opening goal. Scored by 89, assisted 43 at 1-10 on the clock. This woke the steel dog’s up, and they ramped up their intensity . The equalising goal came with a touch of luck. A shot from the blue line rebounded off the backboard’s before hitting the back of the Solway netminder and going into the goal. Sommer was credited with the goal assisted by Morgan and Ulrich at 7-27. The steeldog’s were in the grove now and pushing forward to take the lead. A power play gave them an opportunity but Marr in the Solway goal made some great saves.
Ivan was not to be denied has he hit a beauty past Marr to give the Dog’s the lead. Assisted Cooper at 13-25.
The first period ended with the Dog’s leading 2-1.
The second continued in the same vein as the first, at 21-57 a bullet of a shot from Doxy gave the Dog’s a 3-1 lead. Both teams continued to play hard, Solway chasing the game and the Dog’s trying to extend their lead. The Dog’s first line of IBN, Hallfors and Ulrick were in fine form and looked very quick all evening.
The second period ended with 3-1 to the Dog’s.
Solway showed their fighting spirit in the third as they battle for eighth and the final play off place. They were duly rewarded with a power play goal at 48-26 to reduce the deficit to one. The last 12 minutes were going to be intense, but with just over 5 minutes to go a major 5 minute penalty was called on the Dog’s. A Herculean 5 minute penalty kill by the dog’s gave them the victory they deserved, plus the cherry on the cake was an empty net goal just before the final buzzer for that man Walker Sommer.
Mom went to Hallfors but it could have gone to anyone on the first line. A special mention to Curtis who once again showed how good a netminder he is.