THUNDER BAY – Devin Green is the first to admit his sophomore season hasn’t exactly gone as planned.
The Lloydminster, Alta. native struggled in the first 20 or so games of the season, never really finding his groove.
He found it on Friday night.
Green stopped 46 of 48 shots directed his way and was the unquestioned first start of the game, despite surrendering the game winner to York’s Dexter Bricker two minutes into the second overtime period, his Lakehead Thunderwolves dropping a dramatic 2-1 decision in front of more than 2,000 fans at Fort William Gardens.
On the one hand, the point could prove crucial in the playoff race, the Wolves moving six points in front of ninth-place Waterloo.
But just squeaking into the postseason isn’t exactly the plan.
Lakehead is in striking distance of fourth place in the OUA West and coach Bill McDonald would have liked to have picked up the second point in a game they had plenty of chances to put away once regulation time came to a close.
“Believe it or not, but we’re looking to move up in the standings. If you look at the standings, we could be out of it or we could be in fourth place if we get on a run,” McDonald said, admitting it would taste pretty sour if they’d walked away with no points.
Points wouldn’t have been on the table if it weren’t for Green, who absolutely stood on his head in the opening period that saw the Wolves take a 1-0 lead on a Billy Jenkins goal, his fifth of the campaign.
“Green made some really good stops. He was there when we needed it,” McDonald said.
It’s the best hockey his No. 1 goaltender has played all season, the veteran coach added.
“His last three games were good and obviously this one tonight was good. We’ll see what happens tomorrow. He faced a lot of rubber tonight. Hopefully the guys will play a little bit better in front of him.”
Green said his improved play is all about confidence.
Like any goaltender, he doesn’t mind seeing a lot of pucks – as long as he can get an eye on them in time.
“It’s always good when you’re seeing lots of shots, especially off the start of the game. They came out and had a couple of outside pucks, so you see it and get a feel,” said Green. “I definitely feel more confident out there the past couple of starts.”
The Thunderwolves controlled the scoreboard through 40 minutes, despite being outshot 32-19 at that point. But a penalty issued to Carson Dubchak with 64 seconds to play proved costly early in the third. York’s Trevor Peterson fired the puck from his knees at the 42-second mark of the final stanza, tying the game at a goal apiece.
Lakehead had a 56-second two-man advantage in the second-half of the period, but couldn’t beat Lions goalie Mack Shields, who made 32 saves on the night.
They had their best chances to put the game away in overtime. Dubchak was sent in alone on a breakway early in the first OT, but the puck was fed too far ahead and he barely managed to get a shot away on Shields.
The Wolves (10-10-2) swarmed the Lions in the second overtime period, outshooting them 6-2, but it was York who came through. York improved to 16-6-2.
FIRST PERIOD
Scoring: 1. Lakehead, Jenkins (Whitlock) 8:26. Zottl YRK, C. Dubchak LAK (roughing) 9:41. Penalties: Jackman YRK (tripping) 15:57,
SECOND PERIOD
Scoring: None. Penalties: C. Dubchak LAK (cross checking) 18:56.
THIRD PERIOD
Scoring: 2. York, Peterson (Vannucci, Poldma) 0:42 pp. Penalties: Murphy LAK (slashing) 4:05, Geiser YRK (hooking) 11:10, Mort YRK (boarding) 12:15.
FIRST OVERTIME
Scoring: None. Penalties: None.
SECOND OVERTIME
Scoring: 3. York, Bricker (Nikandrov) 2:07. Penalties: None
GAME DATA – SOG – York 18-14-13-1-2-48, Lakehead 11-8-6-2-6-33; Power plays (goals-chances) – York (1-2), Lakehead (0-2); Goaltenders – York: Mack Shields, Lakehead: Devin Green; A: 2,068.
