Feb 08, 2016 | cshanks | 746 views
Peewee B Lynx Open Playoffs with Win
The Lynx got off to a strong playoff start by beating the Scarborough Sharks 1-0 in Game 1 of their best of 3 series.
The Lynx controlled the play in the 1st period and came out strong. A relentless forecheck by forwards Nixon Francis and Taylor Allen resulted in a goalmouth scramble which the girls just couldn't push over the line. At the midway point of the period Kayla Golden controlled the puck behind the net and walked out to get a good shot away and with the rebound sitting on the goal-line Gracie Cunday made a diving attempt to knock it home only to have the Sharks goalie cover it up at the last second. On the same shift winger Mya Mattiussi fed it to Emma Shanks at the point who had a good shot from the blueline which the Sharks goalie again was able to stop. The hardwork paid off late in the period as the Lynx were able to score a powerplay goal with just 4 seconds left to take the 1-0 lead. Emma Lees had a shot from the point and the rebound was banged home by Kayla Golden for what would be the winning goal with the lone assist going to Lees. The Lynx outshot the Sharks 8-2 in the period.
The 2nd period was a complete domination by the Lynx as they outshot the Sharks 13-1. The Lynx continually applied pressure and had excellent scoring chances on both a Maddy Donnelly wrap around and a Hannah Vallier shot from the point. The Sharks players did a great job of clogging the lanes or the Lynx would have had even more shots on net. With about 3 minutes to go Julia Staniland took a pass up the middle from Taryn Lindquist for a partial breakaway which saw Staniland get a good shot off which the Sharks goalie again turned away. The best chance of the period came with Laura Brown taking a shot from the point which deflected to Kayla Golden all alone in front who made a good deke move only to have the Sharks goalie make a great toe save. The lone Sharks shot came in the final minute and saw Emma Francois protect the 1-0 lead with a good five hole save.
The Lynx kept the pressure up in the 3rd and didn't allow any momentum to go the Sharks way. At about the mid way point of the period Kayla Golden walked across the blueline made a move on the Sharks D and fired a shot just over the crossbar. Again good forechecking by the winger combinations of Allen and Francis, Staniland and Lindquist and Cunday and Mattiussi with aggressive pinching by the D pairing of Brown and Lees allowed the Lynx to keep the puck deep in the Sharks end. With 1 minute to go the Lynx took a penalty and the Sharks pulled their goalie for a 6 on 4 attack for the equalizer. The penalty killing of Golden, Donnelly, Shanks and Vallier managed to keep the puck out of the Lynx end for the duration and secure the 1-0 win and lead in the series with Emma Francois getting the shutout. The Lynx look to close out the series in Game 2 on Monday Feb 8th down in Scarborough. Go LYNX go!!