Jan 07, 2013 | pstarling | 319 views
Back to the grind
After not having played a hockey game for 3 full weeks, it was time for Lindsay Midget Teal to get back to work with a Sunday night tilt against their rivals from Manvers.
In a hastily called exhibition game, the Lindsay team headed down the highway to Manvers to play an exhibition game against one of two teams that had been able to beat them in both games so far this season, the Manvers Mustangs.
With a slightly shortened bench, and their back-up goaltender in place, it was going to be a grind for sure as the team had not played a game since December 16th. In the 1st period the visitors ended up down by a goal on a goal that their net-minder had no chance to stop, one of those slow-motion plays that everyone felt helpless to stop from crossing the line. Undaunted they played on, trying to forget about that goal. only 2 1/2 minutes into the 2nd period however, they found themselves staring at a 2-0 deficit on a goal that got tucked into the side of the net, frustrating the goaltender. another 2 minutes later, on a perfectly screened shot through the defenceman, the home side took what appeared to be a commanding 3-0 lead. One thing about the Lindsay team though is that they don't often give up when faced with adversity, and this was to be the case on this night as well. With just under 3 minutes left in the 2nd period, defenceman Wil got another shot off from the point that seemed to handcuff the Manvers goalie who connected with the shot, but was not able to prevent it from trickling over the line, finally the 0 was off the board!
Taking a 2-1 deficit into the flood, Teal stayed focused and determined. Coming out after the flood, that determination paid off when just 1:05 into the frame the second goal was scored, this time by Brock. With just over 5 minutes remaining however Brock was forced into the penalty box (after losing a game of rock/paper/scissors between the two forwards on the ice at the time of the infraction; to roars of laughter from the crowd I might add!) to serve a penalty for one of his team mates who had received a check from behind penalty. After getting the chance to rest for two minutes, Brock came back onto the ice with a little extra jump in his step, and just 20 seconds later tied the game up at 3, now with less than 3 minutes remaining in the game. But Lindsay was not done there, with just 11.8 seconds left on the clock, Mike C was able to break in and get the final goal of the game, capping off a great come from behind victory for Lindsay with the last of 4 unanswered goals.
This victory could not have been possible without some awesome saves from the back-up goaltender Greg C.
Well done boys, hopefully that will kick off a great start to a sold 2nd half of the season.