The Walkerton Capitals would travel to Tiverton to play the
Kincardine Kinucks (Scotia Bank) on March 7, 2024. The game, the second of a home and home
series would be a rematch of Tuesdays 5-4 loss for the Capitals and they would
be looking for redemption after giving up a late goal in the previous
game.
The first period would see the Capitals apply pressure early
and often as the peppered the Kincardine net with quality shots. Walkerton would open the scoring when Keegan
Batte fired a wrist shot from the slot area after some great work along the
boards and in behind the net. Spencer
Odell would pick up the assist on the play.
The Capitals would then increase its lead just over two minutes later
when Niklas Howald finished a fine three-way passing play with a shot that
found the back of the net. Assists on
the play would be credited to Jasper Rowe and Curtis Rowe. The Kinucks would cut the lead in half when
they scored with just under four minutes remaining in the period. Walkerton would hold a 2-1 lead at the end of
the first period.
The second period would start with the Kinucks coming out
quickly and would tie the gam just one and a half minutes into the period. The back and forth game would continue when
Walkerton’s Chase Kaufman lifted a high loop shot that found the back of the
net, Curtis Rowe would get the assist. Kincardine
would respond a few minutes later to again tie the score. The Capitals would again score when Chase Kaufman
scored after taking a hard pass from Niklas Howald just as a Kincardine penalty
expired. Walkerton would hold a 4-3 lead
at the end of the second period.
The start of the third period would see the two teams battle
back and forth and each would have several decent scoring chances only to be
stopped by the two goalies. Walkerton
would score just past the midway point of the period when Chase Kaufman
completed the hat trick after scoring on a goalmouth scramble while on the
power play. The assist on the play would
be awarded to Spencer Odell. Walkerton
would take a couple of late penalties but they were able to clear its defensive
zone and send the Kinucks into their own end to regroup and make passes in an
attempt to get back into the game.
Walkerton’s Kyle Graul would intercept and attempted stretch pass and
split the defensive dual before going top shelf over the glove of the
Kincardine netminder while shorthanded to complete the scoring with just under
four minutes remaining.
Walkerton would win the game and thus split the two game series
with Kincardine, and pickup two valuable points. The Capitals still with a few games in hand
are right in the thick of the playoff race.
Strong puck movement and hard work along the boards and the blueline were
keys to success of this game. The boys
were going to the net and would be rewarded because of it.
WALKERTON CAPITALS - 6
KINCARDINE KINUCKS - 3