Already up 2-0 in the Sutherland Cup Final, the Listowel Cyclones looked to grab a 3-0 stranglehold last night against the Caledonia Pro Fit Corvairs in Caledonia.
In the opening frame, Caledonia had a good first couple minutes, generating some decent shifts, even calling Cyclones goalie Max Wright into making a sensational save on a rebound blocker side with his right pad that robbed Jesse Barwell on the doorstep. But soon after Caledonia took a penalty, and Holdyn Lansink made an excellent play to fire the puck low into a crowd in front of Corvairs goalie Peirce Charleson that was tipped by Chayse Herrfort. The Cycs would bring that 1-0 lead into the second.
Listowel was pressed a little more in the second with the long change, as Caledonia were able to use their stretch pass reliance to get some great rush chances, but Max Wright was completely dialed in, well on his way to a 36-save shutout. No goals were scored and some big hits were exchanged, and Listowel went into the second intermission just 20 minutes away from a 3-0 series death grip.
The third period offered some more big hits, penalties both ways and more brilliance from Max Wright. Charleson to his credit had a good game, easily the best in this series by a Corvairs netminder, and he will likely get the start in game 4. But another late PP opportunity saw Herrfort make another great tip, as Max Coyle bluffed a shot and sent an excellent slap pass to a wide open Herrfort at the bottom of the blocker side faceoff dot, and he made no mistake to put Listowel up 2-0. Despite pulling Charleson and getting a few last gasp shots in, the Corvairs would fall on home ice and behind 3-0 in the series, with a do-or-die game in Listowel for game 4, where the Cyclones will have an opportunity to win their first ever Sutherland Cup.
That game will go Tuesday night at 7:30 at the Steve Kerr Memorial, advance tickets go on sale Monday night from 7-8:30. Myself, Steve Sabourin and Scott Bridge will be bringing you the live action as it all unfolds, as we prepare to potentially see history made in Listowel. See you there.
