QUEBEC CITY P.Q. — With their playoff lives on the line the Moncton Wildcats played their best game of the tournament but it wasn’t enough. Eric Wellwood delivered the goal that eliminated the QMJHL champion from the 2010 Memorial Cup Tournament 12:22 into overtime.
Trailing by one after twenty minutes of play the Moncton Wildcats scored two goals inside the first 3:01 minutes of the third period taking a one goal lead for second time in the game. But a goal by Steven Johnston 1:46 after the Wildcats’ third goal sent the teams back to square one with the score 3-3, forcing overtime in a very exciting game.
Nicola Riopel was unable to start in goal for the Wildcats due to illness. Wildcats head coach gave the nod to former OHL Erie Otters Shane Owen who had been released from OHL before joining the Wildcats. Owen had not seen action since March 11. With Owen as the starter it forced Moncton to pay attention to their defense.
Windsor got their first chance with a man advantage 57 seconds into the opening period but was unable to score.
For Windsor head coach Bob Boughner, the message before the game was to play this game like a game seven because having a chance to eliminate a team in a tournament likes this one doesn’t happen often.
Shutout on their first two power plays Moncton opened the scoring on a power play. Center Randy Cameron beat a screened Windsor goaltender Phillip Grubauer 18:36. Kelsey Tessier who didn’t have any points since the tournament began got his first point on Wildcats first goal in the game. It was the first power play goal allowed by Windsor since the tournament began.
Windsor tied the game 1-1 also with a man advantage with 0:07 remaining in the first period. Spitfires’ defenseman Cm Fowler scored with a shot just four feet inside the blue line.
Windsor came back in the second period taking the lead for the first time in the game. Taylor Hall, the possible first overall pick next June in Los Angeles, is a young man of many talents. The Spitfires left winger showed one of them on Windsor’s second goal in the game making a beautiful pass to Justin Shrugg 5:09 into second period.
The Wildcats were 1-for-3 with a man advantage when they missed an excellent opportunity with a four-on-three power play with Dale Mitchell and Scott Timmins in penalty box for Windsor. Grubauer made several key saves preventing the Wildcats to tie the game.
Moncton dominated 26-19 on shots on goal but Windsor still had the lead on main scoreboard leading by one 2-1 after two periods of play.
Right from the get go in third period a face off won by Wildcats center Cameron led to Moncton tying goal scored by Scott Brannon 2:32 into the period. Another face off won this time by center Ted Stephens led to Moncton third goal in the game scored by defenseman Brandon Gormley just 29 seconds after Brannon goal.
The OHL champion didn’t waste time tying the score at three. Steve Johnston beat Owen with a backhanded shot on a second rebound 1:46 later.
Owen saved his teammates by making an enormous save against Dale Mitchell who saw Owen pick the puck with his glove keeping the score tied at three.
Daniel Pettersson had the victory at the end of his stick with 24.7 seconds remaining in regulation time but like Owen did for the Wildcats, Grubauer made a brilliant save to force overtime in game five of 2010 Memorial Cup Tournament.
Eric Wellwood sealed Moncton;s fate 12:22 into overtime with Windsor game winning goal.
Shots on goal by Periods:
Moncton Wildcats: 16-10-13-1-40
Windsor Spitfires: 12- 7- 20-9-48
Goaltenders:
Moncton Wildcats: Shane Owen 48 shots 44 saves
Windsor Spitfires: Phillip Grubauer 40 shots 37 saves
Power plays:
Moncton Wildcats: 1-4
Windsor Spitfires: 1-2
Three stars selections:
First: WND Justin Shrugg
Second: MON Randy Cameron
Third: WND Eric Wellwood
Contact the author at: serge.poulin@prohockeynews.com
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