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Majors Bounce Back With A Thrilling Overtime Victory

April 23, 2011 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Mississauga St. Michael's Majors News Release


Mississauga, ON - It was an entertaining game at the Hershey Centre this evening as the IceDogs and Majors met in game three of the Eastern Conference Championship this evening. The Majors took one more step in their Road to the Cup, with a thrilling 3-2 overtime victory. The win gives the Majors a 2-1 series lead.

The Majors got off to a great start tonight, as each line got time in the IceDogs end and created chances for themselves. The checking was fierce and immense as both teams were using their body and trying to make a physical presence felt. The Casey Cizikas line in particular had a good chance almost every time they were on the ice during the first, but couldn't solve IceDogs stopper Mark Visentin. The Majors were outshooting the IceDogs 6-1 just over 5 minutes into the game but it was Niagara who struck first on just their second shot of the game. IceDogs captain Andrew Aggozino carried the puck through the neutral zone and around the Majors net when he found Alex Friesen alone in the high slot. Friesen made no mistake as he put a great one timer off the Aggozino pass that beat JP Anderson high blocker side at 7:46 of the first. The Majors did push back and continued to get chances, as the game seemed much more open than the previous two games of the series. Both goalies had to make key stops and in the final minutes, Anderson was saved by the cross-bar as another great shot flew over his blocker off the stick of Darren Archibald. The Majors were down 1-0 after the first, despite out shooting the IceDogs 15-10.

The Majors began the second on the power play and peppered five shots at Visentin, but the IceDogs net minder was up to the challenge. Again the play was wide open with action at each end, and bodies flying everywhere. Both teams were less disciplined this period, and both had powerplay chances but couldn't convert. The IceDogs got their second goal after a miscue from JP Anderson behind the net with the puck, he had to scramble back to the net but never found his angle, and Freddie Hamilton got his fourth goal of the playoffs. Late in the period, Derek Schoenmakers took a blind side hit to the head from Darren Archibald, and the Majors seemed to be sparked by it. Maxim Kitsyn got his sixth goal of the playoffs on the ensuing powerplay; a goal the Majors desperately wanted and allowed them to go into the locker room down just one goal. Kitsyn tracked down the puck in front of the net and put it past Visentin on his backhand at 18:08 of the second. Shots this period were 12-8 in favour of the Majors.

The Majors came out like gangbusters yet again in the third, but still could not beat Visentin. The referees were letting each team play, as only two penalties were called all period. As time was ticking it seemed like the IceDogs couldn't wait for time to run out. Then with just under six minutes remaining the Majors got there break. After a great play by Wise to fore check and get the puck loose down low, he fed the puck out to the point for Flemming who wristed one on net and Rob Flick who was screening popped the rebound into the empty net. The Majors pulled even and after killing off a late too-many men penalty, regulation time ended and overtime was needed to find a winner. Shots on goal were 15-6 in the third period in favour of the Majors.

Overtime didn't last long. At just 3:13, Justin Shugg scored the game winner as the Cizikas line finally broke through after a great night. Cizikas stole the puck and came down on Visentin, tried to go 5-hole and the puck bounced right out to Shugg, who snapped it in over a sprawling Visentin, giving the Majors their 3-2 victory. There were only three shots in overtime, all by Mississauga.

JP Anderson got the start for Mississauga and recorded his 10th victory of the post season, making 22 saves on 24 shots. Mark Visentin made 42 saves in the loss. The games three stars were Flick (3rd), Visentin (2nd) and Shugg (1st).

The series now shifts back to St. Catharines as the two teams get set to do battle on Easter Monday. Game time is 7:00 PM. Game five will go on Tuesday evening at 7:00 PM back at the Hershey Centre. Tickets are available at the Hershey Centre box office and at ticketmaster.ca.

MasterCard Memorial Cup individual game tickets are available. 500 red level seats have been released for each round robin game and the semi final. Get yours now at ticketmaster.ca or at the Hershey Centre box office.

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