Adam Prudhomme
Editor
The Napanee Raiders picked up a huge win-in every sense of the word-on Wednesday night, thumping the Jets 8-1 in Amherstview to take a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven East Tod Division Finals.
Napanee’s Aidan Johnson opened the scoring just 1:14 into the game to set the tone for the visitors. Ben Chubbs added another at 8:29 of the first.
Soren Zamuner kept up the pressure with a goal in the opening five minutes of the second.
Amherstview’s Mathieu Halle broke the Raiders’ string of unanswered goals at the 8:40 mark of the second, but that was it for the home team’s offense.
Matthew Sheehy got the goal back less than two minutes later to restore Napanee’s three goal lead. They iced the victory with four unanswered in the third as Reid Lambert, Zamuner, Isaac Brown and Maverick Labrie all found the back of the net.
Amherstview’s Jeremy Piazzi was charged with five of the goals while Carter Page allowed the other three. Together they faced 29 shots.
Napanee’s Bailey Maracle earned the win with 32 saves.
With the win the Raiders became the first road team to pick up a win in the series. It also gives the Raiders a chance to close out the series on home ice Friday night at the Strathcona Paper Centre. Puck drop is at 7:30 p.m.
The Jets meanwhile will attempt to force a Game 7, which would be Sunday at 7:30 p.m. back at the W.J. Henderson Arena.