NATS CLINCH PLAYOFF POSITION
As the regular season is soon coming to an end, the Rockland Nats clinch a playoff position, currently fourth in their division
As the regular season is soon coming to an end, the Rockland Nationals have clinched a playoffs position.
The Nats are now in fourth place in their division, with 60 points, and have clinched a playoffs position. The Nats lost two of their last three games, however, and now only have two regular season games left.
Nats vs. Colts
The Nats fought hard on Tuesday, February 27, against the Cornwall Colts, but were defeated 4-3 in overtime. Brennan Markell opened the scoring for the Colts two minutes into the game. Alex Roberts tied the game 1-1 near the end of the first, but the Colts took the lead again in the second with a goal by Alex Wilkins.
David A. Poirier widened that lead for the Colts 3-1, with his goal in the beginning of the third period. The Nats came back to tie it with two goals of their own. Raphael Gosselin scored on a powerplay halfway through the period and Mathieu Blanchette tied it for his team with less than a minute left in the game.
Although the Nats fought hard to get to overtime, Ethan Mulhearn won it for the Colts at 3.27 minutes into overtime.
Nats vs. Grads
The Rockland Nats then came out on fire against last-place team, the Navan Grads. The Nats won the game 7-3 on Saturday, March 3. Trevor Coykendall picked up two goals for the Nats, which earned him the second star of the game. Alex Robert also scored two goals, and had one assist, earning him the first star of the game. Mathieu Blanchette, Shawn Kennedy and Connor Beatty also each picked up a goal for the Nats.
Nicholas Chartrand of the Navan Grads was named the third star of the game for his goal. Curtis Fabbro and Ethan Osburn also scored for the Grads.
Nats vs. Bears
The Nats lost 2-1 to the Smiths Falls Bears in shootouts on Sunday, March 4. After the first period went goalless, Antoine Leblanc opened the scoring for the Nats, 19 seconds into the second period. The Nats held on to their lead until halfway through the third period when Hunter Garlasco tied things up for the Bears.
Neither team was able to find the back of the net during overtime, so the game ended in a shootout, where the Nats were defeated. Bears’ Michael Larose was named first star. Bears’ goalie Kyle Renaud was named second star for his 32 saves and Nats’ goaltender Sean Storr was the third star with 26 saves.
The Rockland Nats play their two final regular season games on Friday, March 9, against the Hawkesbury Hawks and on Sunday, March 11, against the Pembroke Lumber Kings.