Majors win series opener

Published on March 19, 2010 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Mississauga St. Michael's Majors News Release


Mississauga, ON- The Mississauga St. Michael's Majors opened their playoff series against the Peterborough Petes with a 4-2 victory tonight at the Hershey Centre. The Majors now lead the series 1-0.

The series marks the third time the two clubs have faced each other in the post season; and if game one was any indication they are in store for real battle. The game started off slowly as both teams felt each other out in the opening minutes. The Majors had their first real chance of the game just over nine minutes into the first when David Corrente's blast from the point sent off a big rebound from Petes goaltender Jason Missiaen. Ryan Lopes failed to get a shot off and the game remained scoreless. Under three minutes later the Majors struck first. Jordan Mayer, the team's leading goal scorer in the regular season made it 1-0 after a great play from William Wallen. Wallen avoided a check along the side board and passed out-front to Mayer, who went in and beat Missiaen to give St. Mike's the lead. A minute later the Majors went on their first power play and while they weren't able to score they showed a lot of energy and created several scoring opportunities. Mississauga took the 1-0 lead into the first intermission.

The scrappy play opened the second period as both teams were huddled arguing back and forth and the Majors found themselves on another power play just eight seconds into the period. At 3:39, Peterborough drew even courtesy of rookie Matt Puempel. The Petes shot the puck into the Majors end and Puempel hustled to the loose puck beating the defence and goaltender Chris Carrozzi with a wraparound to tie the game at 1-1. One minute later Peterborough found themselves on a four minute power play after Riley Brace picked up a pair of minor penalties. The penalty kill unit was successful limiting the Petes to few chances and the four minutes was successfully killed off. The Majors almost took the lead but Jason Missiaen kept the score line tied by robbing T.J. Battani. The second ended just how it started with the teams exchanging words and a few shoves.

Mississauga appeared to take the lead early in the third only to have the goal waived off. Brett Flemming fired the puck on goal and it took a deflection off a scrum of players in-front of the Peterborough goal. The officials ruled no goal after the puck went in off a glove hand keeping it 1-1. Peterborough erased the tie when Austin Watson beat Carrozzi from way out with a wrist shot to make it 2-1. Watson carried the puck in past the blue line and fired a shot on the Majors netminder that beat him under the blocker. Seconds later the Majors were awarded a penalty shot after Rob Flick was being held as he skated towards goal. Flick stepped up and beat Missiaen with a backhander through the five hole to tie the game at 2-2. Mississauga continued the pressure and and took the lead at 11:27 after a goal by Blake Parlett. The Majors broke out on a three-on-two, Casey Cizikas carried the puck in and passed to Riley Brace, Parlett skated ahead of the pair and took Brace's pass and beat Missiaen to give Mississauga the lead. The Petes broke out on another two-on-one minutes later, Carrozzi made the initial save and was out of his goal, the Petes shot at the open net but Jordan Mayer stuck his leg out to block the sure goal. The Majors added an empty netter in the closing seconds of the period courtesy of Dustin Ekelman, making the final 4-2 for Mississauga. Chris Carrozzi made 27 saves and records the win. Jason Missiaen stopped 30 shots in a losing effort.

The Majors will now head to Peterborough for Game Two of the series on Monday night, and return home for Game Three on Tuesday. Tickets are available through the Hershey Centre Box Office or by calling the Majors office at (905) 502-7788 x.1.

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from March 19, 2010


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