For the second time this week the Sarnia Legionnaires were faced with a must win situation, and were able to pull out the victory.
The Legionnaires trailed the best of seven series 3-1 heading into game five in Leamington Thursday night, in a rink where they were winless in five games this season.
The hometown Flyers opened the scoring 1:25 into the contest with a point shot that got by everyone, including goaltender Jorgen Johnson. Johnson was lights out from there, stopping 33 of 34 shots he faced.
Head Coach Mark Davis says the guys have showed a ton of character this week.
"I told the boys that they played with a lot of guts, everybody just played hard, each line, all the defense, not to mention Jorgen Johnson who was unbelievable in net again," he says.
He says the guys have been working hard, and they're starting to get the bounces to go their way.
"We keep battling and that's all I can really ask for, the fourth win in a series is always the hardest to get, that's what I keep saying," says Davis. "I've been there, I've been up three games and lost, you start squeezing your stick a little too tight, the bounces start going the other way, it can be tough."
Jarret Marks scored a shorthanded goal late in the first period to tie the game 1-1. Neither team found the back of the net again until 3:24 of the third period, when Zach Vanderwal one timed a pass from Joey Zappa to give the Legionnaires their only lead of the hockey game.
A strong penalty kill helped Sarnia secure the 2-1 victory, killing off all five of Leamington's power plays.
Davis says they've dedicated the series to longtime friend Glenn Campbell, who passed away suddenly this week.
"He's been with me for a while, even back when I was coaching in Lambton Shores we always road the bus together, me and him were a team," says Davis. "He was well liked by the guys and I said to them before the game, we need to do this for Glenn."
Game six will be back at Sarnia Arena for a 7:10pm puck drop Saturday night. If necessary, game seven will be in Leamington Sunday evening.
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Here is audio from the game five broadcast with CHOK's Jake Jeffrey:
Zach Vanderwal's game winning goal early in the third period.
[audio mp3="http://blackburnnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Vanderwall-gwg.mp3"][/audio]
The final few seconds of regulation as the Legionnaires hang on to the 2-1 win.
[audio mp3="http://blackburnnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/final-minute.mp3"][/audio]
