Adam Prudhomme
Editor
A late rally attempt by the Napanee Raiders came up short in Amherstview Sunday night as the Jets held on for a 4-3 victory.
The loss was just Napanee’s second on the year and dropped them into a first place tie with the Jets. The two rivals have split their first four meetings on the season while running the table against every other foe and now sport identical 13-2 records.
Specialty units were a major factor in Sunday’s showdown, as all seven goals scored in the game came on the power-play.
Amherstview dominated the first half of the game, building a 3-0 advantage through the first 34 minutes of play.
Elliott Belzile scored twice in the first period for the home team, finding the back of the net at the seven-minute mark and again at 14:13. He was at it again 11:55 into the second period, this time assisting on Zackery McMahon’s goal to push the lead to 3-0.
Napanee’s power-play unit was able to generate some offense of their own and make a game of it with a pair of quick strikes in the second. Matthew Sheehy got the Raiders on the board at 14:10. Just over two minutes later Beckett Palmer-Stephen chipped in to cut the deficit to 3-2.
Belzile had one last trick up his sleeve in the third however as he scored 6:35 into the final frame to notch the hat trick and extend the Jets’ lead to 4-2.
Ben Carter responded for Napanee with just under five minutes left in the game to keep hope alive of at least forcing overtime. It wasn’t to be on this night however as Jeremy Piazzi locked in and made the one goal lead stand until the final horn. He finished the night with 41 saves. His counterpart Mitchell Bown made 29 stops.
Both sides had seven power-play opportunities on the night.
Amherstview has now won two straight over the Raiders, dating back to their 6-0 win on Nov. 5. In their first two meetings this season back in October the Raiders earned a 2-1 win and 4-1 victory.
The Jets have gone undefeated since that Oct. 17 setback, now winners of 10 straight.
Prior to Sunday’s loss the Raiders cruised to a 6-0 win over the visiting Picton Pirates on Friday night at the SPC.
The Raiders kept up a balanced attack, scoring two goals in each frame. Palmer-Stephen and Sheehy each had two on the night while Noah Westwater and Ben Chubbs had singles.
Bailey Maracle picked up his first shutout of the season, turning away 35 Pirate shots. Despite the score, the Pirates actually outshot Napanee 35-34 on the night.
Napanee’s next action will be rematch with the Pirates on Thursday night. Puck drop is 7:30 p.m. On Friday they’re back in Napanee to welcome the Panthers to the SPC. Puck drop is 7:30 p.m.
The Pirates remain third in the east Tod Division at 8-7, 10 points back of the first place Raiders and Jets. The Panthers are fourth at 7-6-1 (15 points) while the Campbellford Rebels are fifth at 3-11 (six). The Frankford Huskies sit last at 0-13-2.