Gillespie’s lone goal in Shootout gives Lakers the victory.
The Forest Lake Lakers traveled to Poppy Waterman Arena yesterday to take on the Dells Ducks in the 1st of a 3 game weekend series. It was also the birthday of rookie forward, #11 Brandon Gillespie, so it was fitting that his birthday was capped off with the winning goal in the shootout giving the Lakers the 2-1 victory in the series opener. “I couldn’t be happier for Brandon. He’s had an emotional week with the loss of his grandfather. For him to come out here and lift this hockey club past a very good Ducks team on the road is really special. What a way to cap off his birthday” said Lakers Head Coach Dennis Canfield.
The pace of the game was up tempo from the start with each team asserting their physical play. In a game that saw the league’s top two netminders square off neither club was able the solve the others goalie and the 1st period would end in a scoreless tie. When asked about the period Canfield said, “ I thought both teams played well and it was an entertaining period of hockey from two good hockey clubs”. Shots on goal were 12-9 in favor of the Ducks.
The 2nd period started much the same; however, it was the Lakers who would strike first with Ducks #17 Neitenbach in the box for cross checking #7 Josh Fisher would bang home a loose puck giving the Lakers the lead 1-0. The lead did not last long though as Lakers defensemen #15 Zach Milavitz took a penalty just over a minute later and the Ducks evened the score 1-1 on a goal by #94 Tyler Forest. That score held and both teams headed to the locker room tied 1-1. Shots on goal favored the Ducks 8-6.
In the 3rd period, both teams had man advantages in what was shaping up as another classic affair between both clubs but no team was able to solve the goalies and the game headed to an extra frame. In the 4 on 4 setting it was anyone’s, but once again each goalie made their mark and it needed to be settled by a shootout. The lone goal came off the stick off Gillespie as he sauced a pretty back-hand past the Ducks goalie under the cross bar and the Lakers stormed off the bench for the 2-1 victory. “It was a gutsy road victory tonight for our club. I was very proud of our effort. Good teams find a way to win and we were able to pull this one out”, said Canfield.
Matiss Kivlenieks turned aside 35 of 36 shots and stopped all 5 ducks shootout attempts to earn the victory.
