Game two of the Southwest Division playoff series between the Oakville Blades and St. Michael's Buzzers did not end well for the game one winners. The Buzzers took a 6-0 lead on home ice on Saturday, March 5, 2016.
The first period of play saw some fiesty action between the two division rivals. Friday saw a ton of physical play, but with a much bigger ice surface it was a much different situation from Saturday. In St. Michael's Arena, the ice surface is much smaller with less room to skate, creating a fast, hard hitting, emotional match-up.
It took a bit for both teams to settle down and focus more on the net; but when they did, the Buzzers struck first. After ten minutes of play in the first, Dalton Barnes hit at a rebound from just outside the crease, flipping it over Brendan McGlynn's left arm and in the net.
Then, minutes later, Cameron Wright gave his team the 2-0 advantage after beating McGlynn with a breakaway five-hole goal, handing the home team a solid lead with most of the game still to go.
The Blades were hungry for their first of the night, but a strange goal by their opponents put them down by three. Michael Andlauer scored by tipping in a weird one from the point, tapping a bouncing puck and beating McGlynn with six minutes off the clock in the second.
The Blades had their chances in the second period, but that didn't matter too much in the third period. Deflated at points, the Blades surrendered another goal to Wright, scoring on a 5-on-3 to take the 4-0 lead. Then, with another two man advantage, slightly after the midway mark of the third, Thomas Beretta scored his second of the tournament to give the Buzzers the 5-0 lead, chasing McGlynn from the net in the process.
The rough stuff continued, but only one more goal made it on to the scoresheet. A late goal on Mike Botiz gave St. Michael's the 6-0 goal to end the game with the Blades dropping a disappointing game two.
With the loss, the best-of-seven playoff series is tied at one apiece heading back to Oakville on Tuesday, March 8, 2016. Puck drop is set for 7:30 pm at Sixteen Mile Sports Complex, hope to see you there!