A quick start, a potent powerplay, and a big night from Matt Caria were the keys in the Thunderwolves 4-3 win over the York Lions in a game played tonight at Lakeheads satellite campus in Orillia, Ontario.
York opened the scoring at 2:55 of the first period when Jordan Forfar beat Lakehead goalie Jeff Bosch on the powerplay. But Lakehead replied with a four-goal outburst beginning at the 6:02 mark when Trevor Gamache scored a powerplay goal assisted by Matt Caria and Adam Sergerie. The Wolves moved ahead 2-1 when Jake Carrick beat Lions goaltender Mike Swick at 14:40 while Lakehead once again had the man-advantage. Just like on the Wolves first goal, assists on Carricks scoring effort were credited to Caria and Sergerie. The Thunderwolves lead was increased to 3-1 less than two minutes later when Devin Welsh scored his third goal in two nights on a blast from the slot set up by Caria at 16:22. Lakehead continued to pour it on when Caria scored another powerplay marker from Sergerie and Gamache at 19:26, giving the Wolves a seemingly comfortable 4-1 lead heading into the second period. Shots on goal in the opening stanza were 10-6 in favor of Lakehead.
Yorks Matt Thomson was able to get one past Bosch at 14:47 of the second period to cut the Wolves lead to 4-2. That was the only goal scored in the middle frame, in which York outshot Lakehead 11-5.
The Lions applied more pressure in the third period, out-shooting the Wolves 13-8. York tightened things up on a goal from Jordan Davies at 12:36, narrowing the Lakehead lead to 4-3. But that is as close as York would get, as the Wolves held off the Lions for their fourth win in a row.
The Thunderwolves head home next weekend for a two-game series against the Ontario Tech Ridgebacks. Game times are set for 7:30 on Friday and Saturday nights at the Fort William Gardens.