With a pair of home games against the Schreiber Diesels over the weekend, the Fort Frances Jr. Sabres had the chance to clinch fourth place and home-ice advantage heading into the SIJHL playoffs.
Unfortunately, one three-minute stretch is all it took to dash those plans.
The Sabres and Diesels were deadlocked with 50 points apeice heading into the final weekend of the regular season. But Friday night’s contest solved nothing as the two teams battled to a 2-2 tie.
So it all came down to Saturday night’s tilt that would decide the look of the playoffs. Unfortunately for the Sabres, allowing three goals in the opening 110 seconds didn’t help their cause.
With bodies flying all over the ice, and outstanding goaltending at both ends, Friday night’s game was as physical and exciting as you are likely to see.
With the Diesels taking a handful of early penalties, the Sabres had chances to open the scoring. But it was Schreiber goalie Matt Kernick who backstopped his team in impressive fashion.
It wasn’t until less than five minutes left in the first period that either team was able to capitalize. Making the most of a four-on-four situation, Diesels’ defenseman Mark Parnell fired a wrist shot from 30 feet that found the back of the twine.
Just two minutes later, however, the Sabres were able to net the equalizer as Chris Sinclair scored his first of two goals on the night.
Sinclair cruised down the right side and made a nifty move on Kernick, going top shelf for the goal and the 1-1 tie.
The second period started much the same as the first, with players landing big hits and racing end-to-end. Along the way, a few players engaged in some extra-curricular activity, warranting a few game misconducts.
The second period also saw Sabres’ goalie Ryan Faragher shine as the 17-year-old made a clutch save on a penalty shot. Despite the action, the score remained unchanged after two periods.
The third period saw the Diesels take the lead when Kevin Clark beat Faragher on a backhand to go up 2-1. But just as he had done in the first frame, Sinclair notched the equalizer at the 14-minute mark.
Overtime solved nothing—and the two teams remained tied in the standings.
It was a different story Saturday night as Faragher struggled in the opening minutes, allowing a trio of Diesel goals before three minutes had ticked off the clock.
Dom Jean, Ryan Pearson, and Clark all beat Faragher, who was replaced in goal by David Novak.
Novak stood in strong for the rest of the game—and the goalie change seemed to steady the Sabres. Fort Frances cut into the 3-0 lead when Quinn Amiel redirected a Mario Boivin attempt.
The Sabres then closed out the first period by adding one more goal when Brendan Baumgartner broke free from the penalty box for a breakaway goal with only 30 seconds on the clock.
The teams traded goals in the second period to enter the third with the scoreboard showing a 4-3 Diesel lead.
A blistering slapshot from Diesel defenceman Brandon Wilson beat Novak on the power play to make it 5-3.
The Sabres poured on the pressure down the stretch, adding a power-play goal from Rod Bouchard, but that was as close as they would come. The Diesel added an empty-net goal with less than a minute remaining to seal the 6-4 win.
With the loss, the Sabres enter the playoffs in fifth place and will face these same Diesels in the quarter-finals.
The first two games of the best-of-seven showdown are slated for Wednesday and Thursday (March 12-13) at 7:30 p.m. at the Schreiber Arena.
Games 3 and 4 then will be held at the Ice for Kids here (dates and times were still to be determined at press time today).
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
