Visually
Game 3 of the IceDogs/Generals
series made for spectacular TV with a number of game stories entering
the game, and even more after the game. Artistically, this was
not exactly Rembrandt on ice. Bottom line is that there is
some real animosity between these two teams, and the IceDogs showed
the necessary push back to get back into the series. Here are a
few random thoughts...
STEVEN SHIPLEY:
Scores
2 goals, and gets 20 stitches and still only gets 2nd star. Go
figure!. That, to me, is a definitive statement on the
leadership of the IceDogs as
no one would have begrudged Shipley had
he not returned. Warrior is an understatement.
THE
JACK:
Boosted
by noise makers, the drum corps and a whole whack of loyal fans, the
old building rocked on its foundations at time and was the loudest
that I can remember it. Even though Oshawa is a veteran team,
you could see that some were rattled at the atmosphere and
the IceDogs fed
off of it. Kudos to the IceDog fans.
LUCAS LESSIO:
Already
a game story as IceDog fans
revel in making Lucas Lessio public
enemy number one, Lessio took
centre stage for his over the top taunting celebration of a goal,
that wrongly as it turned out, was waved off for a phantom contacting
of the puck with a high stick. Lessio then
took a slew of penalties and had his night end early as he picked up
a questionable interference call and then a 10 minute misconduct.
Lessio was
on the short end of a few calls, but no IceDog fan
will extend any sympathy to him. He was still visibly upset at
the disallowed goal call after the game.
SCOTT
LAUGHTON:
A pro's pro.
Laughton has been the best player on either team in the
playoffs. Easy to see why he is a first round pick and a
future NHL'er.
Even when he scored to make the game 4-2, there was no
discernible reaction as he knew there was work to be done.
YOUTH
IS SERVED
Maletta, DiFruscia, Perlini and Verhaeghe have
been equally as effective as the big three of Strome, Shipley and
Ritchie, and that is a good thing. Add in Aaron Haydon's return
to the lineup from a broken jaw and they are a large reason that this
a series very much in doubt.
GOALIES:
In
Game 3 Festarini outplayed Altshuller,
and the IceDog net
minder looked very composed, remarkable considering the wave of
players that the Gens sent to the net. Altshuller has
played well in spurts, but has not looked completely comfortable in
the net so far for Oshawa.
FINALLY...
Interesting
choice by Coach DJ Smith to send McGuire, Dundas and
Hunter Smith out for the last face-off. Gamesmanship has been
an issue with both teams this series. The spillover to Game 4
will be interesting to say the least.
See
you at the rink!
Steve
Clark
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