The Waywayseecappo Wolverines surrendered five unanswered goals on the way to dropping a 6-3 decision to the Swan Valley Stampeders on Saturday night.
You could tell both teams had some nerves to shake off in the early going on Saturday night. Swan Valley opened the scoring 31 seconds into the period and took an early 1-0 lead on Matthew Osadick’s 24th of the season.
It wouldn’t take long for a response from the Wolverines as Brandon Lawson continued to stay hot, beating Pipes on the powerplay to tie the game at 1-1.
The Wolverines would carry momentum into the second period and start the period on the man advantage. Just 1:44 in, Jaymes Knee took a pass from Alex Lucken and ripped a low slapshot to the back of the net.
Special teams continued to play an important part in the first few minutes of the second period. After Brandon Lawson was called for unsportsmanlike, the Wolverines penalty kill unit would go to work.
After Nick Doyle intercepted a pass inside the zone, he saw a streaking Conrad Phillips coming down the left wing. Phillips held onto the puck and snapped it over the glove of Pipes to give the Wolverines a 3-1 lead no more than seven minutes into the second period.
In a three minute span, the Wolverines would make a pair of costly mistakes. Cameron Balk’s unassisted marker would beat a sprawling LaBelle which cut their deficit to one. Minutes later, Matthew Osadick put the puck on net which deflected up and over the shoulder of LaBelle to tie the game up at 3-3 with his second of the night.
The two clubs would lick their wounds and enter the final twenty minutes of play locked at threes with Swan Valley holding a slight edge on the shot clock, 30-25.
In the third, both teams would lay back for the most part and wouldn’t see another goal until the final few minutes. Bradly Goethals would break the tie to put the Stampeders in front 4-3 when his shot beat Isaac LaBelle.
Swan Valley would add two empty-netters with LaBelle on the bench for the extra attacker and the Stampeders would steal one from the Wolverines, 6-3.
Now 24-25-2-2 on the year, the Waywayseecappo Wolverines will have their shot at redemption on Monday when the Stampeders pay one last visit to the Waywayseecappo Arena Complex.
The Wolverines remain four points in front of the Winkler Flyers after they lost to the Winnipeg Blues on Saturday night and continue to hold the eighth and final playoff spot in the MJHL.