The Oakville Blades avenged their 2016 Southwest Division playoff round win with a 2-1 thrilling double-overtime victory against the St. Michael's Buzzers on Friday night.
The Blades got off to an explosive start, dominating the puck for the first ten minutes. It took 8:54 of play in the first before the Blades got the first goal of the contest on the power play after Brayden Sampson's point shot made it on net. He wasn't the one to score. Peyton Reeves was right there to pick up the rebound and beat Cosimo Lazzarino, giving Oakville the 1-0 lead.
Then, the Buzzers struck.
On just St. Michael's second shot of the game, Thomas Flack beat Brendan McGlynn through the wickets with a wrist shot, just outside the right face-off circle, tying the game up at one a piece.
The Blades had their fair share of chances in the second period, but couldn't find a way to take the lead. The closest chance of the frame came just four minutes in when Daniel Jelic's shot beat Lazzarino, but couldn't beat the post after a flurry of chances. Then, in the final minute, September's Gongshow Player of the Month in the Southwest Conference, Ryan Foss got stopped by Lazzarino's right pad, and the game headed into the third period all knotted at one.
The final 20 minutes of regulation solved nothing, so the game required overtime to find out who'd finish on top. The first five minutes of four-on-four extra time proved to be unrewarding, forcing an extra five minutes of three-on-three action. It was an exciting final few minutes of action, with Jack Jeffers moving across the crease and just beating Lazzarino with the tap in goal, giving Oakville the 2-1 victory in the second overtime.
The Blades are back on the road Saturday, a 7:00 PM start against Orangeville. Oakville will host their next home game next Friday at 7:30 PM when the Cobourg Cougars come to the Sixteen Mile Sports Complex. Hope to see you there!