Nov 07, 2011 | Dan Culbert | 289 views
CRS Midgets Earn Tie On The Road
The Contractors Rental Supply Midgets traveled to Stratford on Sunday and earned a hard fought 1-1 tie. Penalty killing was the name of the game Sunday as the two teams combined to kill off 14 of 15 penalties during a back and forth game. As expected, Stratford came out with a much stronger effort at the Allman arena on the back end of a home and home set with the 99ers.
It didn't look like this was going to be the case in the first period as Stratford opened the scoring on the powerplay just over half way through the period. After Brantford went down a man due to a 4 minute call, it took only 6 seconds for the home team to take advantage of their opportunity tapping home a loose puck after a deflected point shot got behind the 99ers goalie. Brantford then killed off the remaining 2 minutes only to find themselves short again just one minute later. Following another successful PK, the 99ers had their an opportunity to pull even before the end of the period as Stratford was called for boarding with 1:39 to go, but was unable to capitalize.
Brantford pulled even less than two minutes into the period as RJ Huszczo's blast from the point found it's way through a great screen to beat the Stratford low to the stick side. Matt General and Tyler Schaeffer picked up the assists which culminated a good pressure shift from their line. The teams traded penalties and chances for the rest of the second period with the best chance to score for either team came off the rush and the resulting goal crease scramble but Connor Curtin made a great stick save to turn the Culitons away. Brantford again had a late period chance when Stratford took a double minor with 1:35 to play, only to waste the opportunity by taking a double minor of their own a minute later, ending the powerplay, and providing the home team another full minute powerplay of their own at the tail end of the exchange.
Brantford came through this with the score still tied, and the two teams again traded chances for the next ten minutes. Brantford pressed hard for the go ahead marker and had several great chances to take the lead for the first time in the game, but a penalty with 7:27 remaining put them back on the PK and ended their momentum. The 99ers had another flurry with about 5 minutes to go when back to back shifts generated chances and forced the Stratford goalie to make two more good saves. An all to familiar habit returned and Brantford took 3 consecutive penalties resulting in a 5 on 3 advantage for the home team and forcing Brantford to forgo thoughts of a win and to have to fight hard for a road game tie. Stratford pressed hard, and the PK held, again with good stops from Curtin as the 99ers were able to get one man back for the final 37 seconds, muscle the puck out and preserve the tie.
All in all there were again some positives to bring forth from the game, again the team received some good goaltending, a 9 for 10 PK effort. Discipline, dedication, and team first play is still an ongoing focus as the team works to recover from a slow start to the season.
Next up this week the 99ers have a home date Wednesday against the North London Nationals.