Jonathon Brodie – Recorder & Times
Consider it the greatest game not being sold.
There’s not much separating the Brockville Braves and Kanata Lasers in their quarter-final matchup, said Braves coach Jesse Winchester, but whatever edge there is it’s been enough to push Brockville to a commanding 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.
On Tuesday the two teams played another quality game, but this time they upped the ante with a marathon matchup that went into a second overtime. It was a game Winchester described as, “one of the best hockey games I’ve ever seen,” with his club coming out on top 4-3 after Philippe Gilmour put home the game winner.
“It’s just hockey. Skilled, fast, and hard hockey,” said Winchester, who loudly clapped for his team on the bench and waited for them to come off the ice after the game. “You try and sit back and be a fan for a second. It’s a great brand of hockey if you’re trying to sell that type of game.”
Every game this round has lived up to its hype. Brockville’s dominance in the series score isn’t an indication to what has actually been happening on the ice. Two games going into overtime is a more accurate display.
The series was expected to be fast-paced with a lot of skill and both teams have delivered that tenfold with some added playoff grit to it.
Tuesday’s Game 3 was easily the best of the bunch and there was only 402 people at the Memorial Centre to watch it — 184 less than Friday’s Game 1 at the Madhouse on Magedoma.
There’s been 12 CCHL post-season game so far. Tuesday’s game ranked ninth on the playoff attendance list.
You could make the excuse that it’s weekday and people are less likely to go out — on Tuesday they might have been right considering the Braves/Lasers game went later than 10:30 p.m. The Hawkesbury Hawks packed more of a crowd Monday and so did the Pembroke Lumber Kings Tuesday.
The Braves won’t be looking to test what their home numbers might be Friday for Game 5 as they’ll go for the sweep Thursday in Kanata.
This is a Braves team that fans should be able to get behind, especially in this series.
Brockville wasn’t down on the scoreboard for even a second in Games 1 and 2. In Game 3 it was a different story and they trailed by a goal three different times with the Braves managing to even things up.
Brockville and Kanata combined for at least two goals every period in their quarter-final. Considering neither team scored in Tuesday’s third period it would have been understandable to guess one of them would find the back of the net in overtime.
The longest the Braves had gone without scoring was 30 minutes 53 seconds in this series. The Lasers worst drought was 41 minutes 12 seconds. Both surpassed the goal famine with ease in Game 3, but it was Brockville who ended up feeding the net.
“We know that we’re a resilient group. This was by far the best game in the series, not only for us but for Kanata too,” said Winchester. “There was intensity there, there was execution, and there was chances on both sides.”
Before the matchup Winchester commented on Hill playing 30 minutes in both Games 1 and 2 and that he would likely play the same amount over the next few games.
On Tuesday the veteran defenceman played closer to 45 minutes, guessed the CCHL coach of the year.
“He’ll be doing the same thing Thursday,” said Winchester.
Sounds like it could be another good game. Hopefully, people will watch it.
Original story at Recorder.ca
