Tim Ruhnke – Recorder & Times
It was a good start for the home team Sunday night.
Brockville captain Kayden Buller scored at 1:47 of the first period in game two of the Jr. A Braves’ quarterfinal series with the Smiths Falls Bears. However, the Bears went on to win 3-1 in front of a capacity crowd at the Brockville Centennial Youth Arena.
Smiths Falls, which is the two-seed in the Central Canada Hockey League (CCHL) playoffs, now has a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series with seven-seed Brockville.
After the Braves went up early on Sunday, Tyson Parker evened the score at 8:39. Jonathan Dudziak gave the Bears the lead at 11:57.
It appeared that the Braves might have tied the game with under three seconds left before intermission. There was no goal, but Brockville ended up with a power-play opportunity.
Smiths Falls managed to maintain its one-goal advantage through the second period while being outshot 15-12. Gus Rabe’s unassisted goal at 8:55 of the third period gave the Bears a two-goal lead.
With about 1:23 to go in regulation, the Braves went with an empty net but were unable to score with an extra attacker.
Smiths Falls outshot Brockville 39-21. Brett Ruddy picked up the win in net for the Bears. Austin Caley made 36 saves for the Braves.
Dudziak, Ruddy and Buller were named first, second and third stars respectively.
Caley almost stole the show in game one by making 60 saves, but Smiths Falls captain Jackson Heron scored late in the first overtime period to give the home team a 3-2 victory.
Parker had opened the scoring for the Bears on a power-play at 3:24 of the first period. The Braves drew even when Jesse Lumsden scored an unassisted short-handed goal at 15:26.
Dryden Dervish gave Brockville the lead on a power play at 10:17 of the third period. Rabe tied the game at 14:34.
Shots were 63-24 in favour of Smiths Falls, including 20-4 in overtime.
Heron and Caley were named first and second stars. Third star went to Rabe.
A crowd of 400 was on hand at the Smiths Falls Memorial Centre.
In the Braves’ two losses, Caley has an impressive save percentage of 0.941. Ruddy’s save percentage in two wins is 0.933.
The Bears will host game three on Tuesday night at 7:30. Game four is set for the Youth Arena on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are limited (capacity is 300); doors open early for pass-holders at 6:15. The remaining tickets will be available at 6:30.
The Youth Arena’s ice surface is smaller than the one at the Braves’ ‘home’ rink, the Brockville Memorial Centre. That facility’s ice has been unavailable since early last week – coinciding with the end of the CCHL regular season – due to ongoing roof renovations.
Original Story at Recorder.ca
