Adam Prudhomme
Editor
Perhaps peaking at the right time, the Napanee Raiders pumped out 18 goals over two victories as they kicked off the final month of the regular season.
On Thursday they doubled up the Picton Pirates on the road 8-4 and then blanked the Campbellford Rebels 10-0 on home ice at the SPC on Friday.
Offense was spread around in their double-digit onslaught as Michael Partrick was the only Raider to notch two goals. Cameron Krupa, Ben Chubbs, Blake Aylesworth, Ryan Kidd, Jackson Barnes, Ben White, Adam Nuttall and Andrew Carr all had a goal.
Brendan Ross earned the shutout, turning away 19 shots on the night for his first career win with the Raiders. Braden Henderson took the loss, still making 50 saves despite allowing 10 to cross the goal line.
Thursday night in Picton the Raiders had to work a little harder, rallying from a 2-1 deficit after the first period. Napanee took a 4-3 lead heading into the final intermission. They came out flying in the third, reeling off four unanswered, three of which came in a span of four minutes.
White and Carr each scored twice while Nuttall, Patrick, Carter and Chubbs all had goals for the visitors.
Ethan Babin earned the win with 39 saves. Ethan Schwarz got the start for Picton but was chased in the third after allowing the first six goals of the game. Nick McGrayne came on in relief, allowing two goals on eight shots.
With the pair of wins the fourth place Raiders have put some pressure on the teams ahead of them in the East Tod Division. Now at 21-14 on the season with one tie, the Raiders are three points back of the Amherstview Jets and five back of second place Port Hope. The Frankford Huskies lead the way with 52 points, nine ahead of Napanee with a game in hand.
Napanee has six games left in the season to try and improve their seeding heading into the playoffs. They’ll next welcome the Jets to the SPC on Friday for a 7:30 p.m. showdown. On Feb. 10 they travel to Frankford to take on the top-ranked Huskies.