Adam Prudhomme
Editor
To call Friday’s date with the Amherstview Jets a must-win for the Napanee Raiders would be hyperbole.
After all, there’s nothing but bragging rights at stake in their 14 game exhibition bubble series played under modified rules. If the Raiders want to salvage a tie in the series however, they’ll need to sweep Friday’s two game mini set.
That’s because with Sunday’s 4-1 victory in Game 12 on Sunday night in Amherstview, the Jets now hold a 5-3-4 series lead. Matte Halle scored twice for Amherstview while Elliot Belzile had one. Ben White had the lone goal for Napanee.
Earlier in the evening the two teams skated to a 2-2 draw.
Friday night at the Strathcona Paper Centre the two teams tied 2-2 in their first game before Napanee picked up a 3-1 win in Game 10. Logan White scored twice for Napanee.
Just as they have for the entire series, the teams played with a short bench of 11 dressed players. The clock continues to run through each stoppage of play for 40 minutes of run time. Penalties were adopted ahead of Friday’s game to give teams a chance to practice their power-play. Prior to that, each infraction simply earned the offensive team a break away shot.
The two teams will close out the series Friday night at the SPC, though once again no fans will be permitted to attend. The series is meant to give the teams a safe way to stay game ready in the event a regular season comes together in the new year.