The No. 4 Lakehead Thunderwolves defeated the Windsor Lancers 4-2 in a thrilling game at the Adie Knox Arena in Windsor Wednesday night. The win gives Lakehead a 1-0 lead in their best-of-three OUA Far West Division Semi-Finals. Although Lakehead had a decided edge in shots and territorial play, Windsor played a tight-checking defensive game that stymied the Thunderwolves potent offense. The Lancers were happy toconstantly clear the puck down the ice in the first two periods,and then both teams opened up offensively in the third leading to a nail-biter of a finish.
The Thunderwolves were led by the lineof Robert Hillier with a goal and two assists and a stellar all-around game, Craig Priestlay with a goal and two assists, and Murray Magill also with a goal and two assists. Lakehead's other tally came from Mike Jacobsen. Windsor goaltender Derrick Laporte was very sharp in the Lancer goal. Heturned aside 39 of 42 Lakehead shots and kept his team within striking distance of the Thunderwolves. Brian White and Mike Budrewicz scored for the Lancers.
The Lancers came out fast, applying some early pressure on the Thunderwolves during an early powerplay opportunity. Mike Jacobsen put Lakehead up 1-0 when he blasted a shot from a sharp angle, deep in the Windsor zone, beating a surprised Windsor goaltender Derrick Laporte at 5:12. Lakehead's Matt Kenny dinged the post a few minutes later during a Lakehead powerplay.
Windsor's Brian White scored on the powerplay at 10:13, set up perfectly off the draw by Rob Rosatti. Lakehead then took the play to the Lancers but Laporte was up to the task in the Windsor goal. A penalty against Lakehead for too many men almost proved costly. Windsor had a potential goal disallowed because the Lakehead net had been knocked off its mooring before the puck went in. Lakehead made it 2-1 at 18:49 when Murray Magill lifted the puck over a fallen Laporte.
The second period began with Windsor ringing the post. Lakehead's deadly powerplay could not capitalize as Windsor successfully killed off two minor penalties at the halfway point of the period. Play was very choppy, with a lot of faceoffs, as Windsor was content to dump the puck out whenever they were pressured. Laporte made a nice save off Lakehead's Aaron Piccinin at 11:14. He then followed up with big saves off Craig Priestlay and Jason Lange.
The third period was the best of the game. Windsor began on the powerplay but were not able to take advantage. Play was very hard-hitting early on with a lot of heavy bodychecks delivered by both sides. Lakehead goaltender Grant McCune came up with a big save at 6:59 off Windsor's Kyle Trudell. Windsor then went on the powerplay, having some chances but not able to get their attempts on the Lakehead goal. The play then opened up, with both teams attacking and counter-attacking very quickly. Lakehead's Robert Hillier made it 3-1 at 13:14 with a low hard wrister that beat Laporte stick side.
Windsor replied at17:25, making it it 3-2,when Mike Budrewicz knocked a rebound past Lakehead's McCune. Windsor tried desperately to get the equalizer, with Brian White rolling a puck just wide of the Lakehead goal with 20 seconds left and Lakehead goaltender McCunewithout his stick. Windsor Coach Vern Stenlund pulled his goaltender and called a timeout with the faceoff in the Lakehead end. Lakehead's Craig Priestlay then jumped on a loose puck in the neutral zone and fired it into the empty Lancer goal to ice the victory for the Thunderwolves. Lakehead outshot Windsor 43-17 in the game.