Scotians even series
After a 5-2 win on Sunday, the Pictou County Junior Scotians hope their road work pays off again when they travel to Liverpool Tuesday night to play the Privateers.
The Scotians have taken six of nine playoff games away from home in the post-season, and with a victory on Tuesday would be a win away from their first-ever league championship.
Game 6 is Friday at the Pictou County Wellness Centre (7 p.m.).
“We are looking to continue playing well, we have played well on the road in the playoffs,” coach Al Whidden said, after his team knotted the best-of-seven Nova Scotia Junior Hockey League series.
“We need to continue improving on our (defensive) zone coverage and limit their chances. They have a very fast, offensive team. We really have to concentrate on being in the right position.”
Goals from Auston Donlevy and Jared Livingstone put Pictou County up 2-0 in the first period on Sunday, but the Privateers responded with a Morgan D’Entremont goal near the end of the opening 20 minutes, and another from Gavyn-Connell-Helle at the start of the second period, a power play effort.
The Privateers have eight power play goals in the first four games of the series.
“When we stay out of the penalty box, we’re OK,” said captain Brendon Duff. “That was a must-win game, but we did it.”
Undaunted after letting that two-goal spread get away, Pictou County recaptured the lead a few minutes later when a Donlevy shot from a bad angle went through Liverpool goalkeeper Cory Peterson, and Ryan MacDonald followed shortly after when he got enough of a crosscrease pass from Riley Cameron to slip the puck under Peterson and over the line.
With Liverpool trying to kill off a five-minute major in the third – a contact to the head penalty taken by Alex Nauss – Duff hammered home a slapper from the point and with the exception of some old-fashioned playoff chirping in the third, the rest of the game was relatively uneventful.
“It was probably the most intense game of the series,” said Blair Dewtie.
“We get behind the eight-ball, but this team has a lot of resilience. It’s going to be a big game down there in Liverpool.”
Notes: The Scotians played 34 games in the regular season, and now 17 in the playoffs…Jacob Pentz (10G, 12A), Brendon Duff (10G, 10A) and Riley Cameron (8G, 12A) leads all playoff scorers. Liverpool’s Derek Nelson (8G, 10A) and Gavyn-Connell-Helle (8G, 9A) are fourth and fifth, respectively.