Adam Prudhomme
Editor
Perhaps needing to shake-off some playoff jitters, the Napanee Raiders overcame a slow start to take Game 1 of their Tod Division quarter-finals 4-1 against the Picton Pirates at the SPC.
The visiting Pirates struck first as Gerrit Kempers scored just 4:15 into the game, a lead that held through the first 20 minutes of play.
Napanee wasted no time in the second as Ben White got the Raiders on the board just 30 seconds after the opening draw. Blake Aylesworth put the home team up 2-1 at the 13:19 mark, a lead they’d never surrender. Reid Lambert added some insurance 8:57 into the third and Aylesworth sealed it with his second of the night just shy of the 15 minute mark.
Raider net-minder Ethan Babin overcame the early goal to turn away 21 Pirate shots to earn the win. He gave way to Logan Vale for the final five minutes of the game, who stopped the only two shots he faced.
Picton’s Nick McGrayne played all 60 minutes, allowing four goals on 29 shots.
Napanee will look to extend the 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series on Thursday when the series shifts to Picton. Puck drop at the Prince Edward County Community Centre is 7:30 p.m.