Adam Prudhomme
Editor
A successful four-point week saw the Napanee Raiders climb to within two points back of the East Tod Division leading Amherstview Jets.
Napanee gained ground in the standings while the Jets were idle this weekend. Both teams have now played 23 games on the season.
Napanee picked up a 5-2 win on home ice against the Picton Pirates on Friday night and the next night doubled up on the Port Hope Panthers 4-2 on the road.
The Raiders secured Saturday’s win with a pair of third period goals, one from AJ Hess just over two minutes into the frame followed by one from Beckett Palmer-Stephen at 15:49 for some insurance.
The two clubs entered the third tied at 2-2. Oz Paziuk scored both of Port Hope’s goals, one to open the scoring at 14:42 of the middle period and the other just passed the 14-minute mark of the second. Sandwiched between those goals were one from Napanee’s Ben Chubbs and another from Reid Lambert.
Napanee controlled the pace of play, outshooting the Panthers 43-27 on the night. In the third they held the Panthers to just three shots while they had 10 of their own after doubling the shots 20-10 in the second.
Bailey Maracle picked up the win while Sam Dingle took the loss. Napanee was 2-for-6 on the power-play while Port Hope converted on two of their five chances.
On Friday the Raiders jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first and held on for the 5-2 win over the Pirates.
Scoring was spread around as Soren Zamuner, Isaac Brown, Chubbs, Johnny Wright and Palmer-Stephen each had one. Brant Noah and Devin Morrison responded for Picton.
The game was a scrappy affair with Picton drawing eight power-plays while Napanee has six. Both teams scored twice on the man-advantage. Picton tallied 34 total minutes on nine infractions while Napanee was charged with 18 minutes over nine infractions.
Maracle made 28 saves for the win while Owen Willis finished with 32.
With the win Napanee improves to 17-4-0-2 in 23 games played. The Jets lead the way at 19-4 for 38 points.
Port Hope is third at 13-9-2-1 (29 points), followed by Picton at 13-11-0-1 (27), Campbellford at 8-17 (16) and Frankford at 1-23-2 (four).
The Raiders will welcome Frankford to the SPC on Friday for a 7:30 p.m. start time. On Saturday they travel to Campbellford. Following this weekend they will have just four games remaining in the regular season.