Kincardine Atom LL2 hosted Mt. Forest on 07Mar2009. For the first time in many games, Kincardine had 2 forward lines to go along with 3 defencemen. Would the extra legs translate into 3 solid periods of play?
Kincardine LL2 continued from where they left off in Teeswater - excellent puck pursuit and good positional play all over the ice continued. The first period resulted in play going end to end, with each team getting scoring opportunities. Good defence and goaltending on both sides kept the game scoreless at the end of the first period.
The second period continued with play going end to end. Good defensive positioning by Brendan (#10) on a Mt. Forest break forced the player into a bad shooting angle. The shot was thwarted when Brendan stepped towards the player and poked the puck away. Kincardine finally broke the deadlock with a little over two minutes to go in the second when Michael (#6) intercepted the puck behind the Mt. Forest net. He passed it to Virat (#4) in the slot who made a nifty backhand pass to the Rocket (#2) standing at the side of the net in the clear. Rocket fired the puck into the open net for a 1-0 lead at the end of the second.
Kincardine struck quickly again in the third period when Chris (#15) held the line, causing the Mt. Forest player to slow down. Virat (#4) caught him, stealing the puck and sending it at the Mt. Forest net. Michael (#6) remained in excellent position in front of the net all alone. His first shot was stopped, but he hammered away at the rebound which found its way through the five-hole and into the net for a 2-0 lead. Mt. Forest then played desperately, putting the pressure on Kincardine and breaking through 2 minutes later to make the score 2-1. Mt. Forest pressed even harder. Chris (#15) stopped numerous one-on-ones with good poke checks and backwards skating. Brendan (#10) blocked a shot off the chest. Alex (#7) worked hard in the corners to clear the puck and came back hard to cover for his defensive partner. Hogan (#11) covered the slot intercepting centring passes and clearing the zone. Mackenzie (#30) and Ryan (#16) played tough on the boards to clear the zone. When Mt. Forest finally broke through the defensive wall, Alex (#1) came up with the big save, stopping a point blank shot from the slot with a quick leg and stick. With just under four minutes to go, Ryan (#16) knocked the puck out of the zone. Michael (#6) shot it to the boards where Virat (#4) picked it up and carried it all the way to the Mt. Forest net, getting a shot in tight and then getting enough of the rebound for it to trickle into the behind the Mt. Forest goalie for a 3-1 lead. Mt. Forest then pulled their goalie with 2 minutes to go and peppered Kincardine. Alex (#1) made an outstanding save on a cross crease pass that looked like a sure goal by getting a toe on the puck. The Rocket (#2) got hold of the puck and beat three players and was caught just before he could put the puck into the empty net. The final score was 3-1 for Kincardine.
A solid team effort, with contributions from every single player, resulted in Kincardine LL2's strongest outing of the year.