Adam Prudhomme
Editor
Bailey Maracle made 41 saves to lead the visiting Napanee Raiders to a 5-0 victory over the Gananoque Islanders on Sunday night, halting a mini two-game losing streak in the process.
Napanee came into Gananoque looking to return a favour after the Islanders handed them their first regulation loss of the season just over one week prior at the Strathcona Paper Centre.
Evan Foley scored late in the first period to put the Raiders up 1-0 in what would stand up as the game winner.
Liam Mroueh rode that momentum into the second, scoring 1:15 into the frame. Devon King pushed the lead to 3-0 just after the midway point.
Captain Justynn Steven iced the victory with a pair of goals in the third, one just over three minutes into the period, the second at 16:21.
Jeremy Piazzi, who was outstanding in Gananoque’s win in their previous meeting, faced 50 shots on the night. Each team drew just four minutes of time in the sin bin, and both were offsetting penalties so neither side saw a power-play opportunity the entire game.
Napanee came into Sunday’s game looking to snap a two-game losing streak, having lost 2-1 in overtime at home to the Picton Pirates on Friday night.
Fortunately Napanee was able to find the back of the net once, when Mroueh scored on the power-play in the final minute of the first period. That goal ignited a shower of stuffed toys onto the ice as Friday was the team’s annual teddy bear toss game. Fans were encouraged to bring toys and food donations for the Morningstar Mission prior to the game. Once the first goal was scored, the players scooped up the stuffed critters, which will be donated to less fortunate kids this holiday season.
Will Harrison responded for Picton at the 11:39 mark of the second to tie it at 1-1 and then went on the end the game with the overtime winner just over a minute into the extra frame.
Eric Tessier was outstanding for Picton in net, stopping 49 of 50 shots faced. Maracle turned away 29 of 31 in the tough luck loss.
Napanee will now go on a bit of an extended road trip, visiting Lakefield on Saturday followed by Amherstview on Sunday, both with 7:25 p.m. puck drops.
Napanee’s next home game won’t come until Dec. 20, a full two weeks from their previous one, when they welcome the Clarington Eagles. Puck drop for that game will be 7:30 p.m. at the SPC. They’ll then visit North Kawartha on Dec. 21 for their final game of 2019 before the Christmas break.
Napanee is now 21-1-1-2 on the season, giving them 45 points out of 50 possible in 25 games played. Amherstview has moved into second at 16-17-1 (33 points), just ahead of Gananoque at 13-8-1-3 (30). Port Hope holds the last playoff spot at the moment at 12-9-2-2 (28), four points up on the Pirates who are 11-12-1-1 (24). The Campbellford Rebels are all but out of the race at 1-20-0-2 (four).