Staff
The Fort Frances Lakers’ clock might be nearing midnight.
The Lakers, whose Cinderella playoff run has brought them to within two wins of the SIJHL final, were edged 2-1 by the Dryden Ice Dogs last night to trail their best-of-seven semi-final series 3-2.
The Lakers will try to fend off elimination in Game 6 here tomorrow night (7:30 p.m. at the Ice For Kids Arena).
Game 7, if necessary, would be played Saturday night in Dryden, with the winner advancing to the league final against the Fort William North Stars, who swept Sioux Lookout in their semi-final showdown.
The North Stars have been fixtures in the SIJHL season-ender, having qualified for every final since 2004, winning four of the six times.
Lakers’ goalie Jameson Shortreed was forced to be sharp early in last night’s game, staving off 18 shots in the first period alone and 42 overall.
The Ice Dogs did solve him once, though, as Mike Lennon tallied his third of the playoffs 6:29 into the game.
Dryden then made it 2-0 at 5:29 of the second when Ben McClellan found the back of the net for his fourth of the post-season.
Defenceman Mark McDonald assisted on both Dryden goals.
The Lakers clawed to within one late in regulation time when defenceman Morgan McNeill’s second of the playoffs beat Ice Dogs’ goalie Josh Baker with 1:03 to go.
The goal came just 13 seconds after Dryden’s BJ McClellan was whistled for interference.
Jordan Carne picked up the lone assist on the goal to boost his post-season scoring lead to 11 points.
Unfortunately for the Lakers, McNeill’s goal was the only one of their 26 shots to bulge the twine.
