Adam Prudhomme
Editor
Chris Edwards notched the series clinching goal for the Napanee Raiders, scoring 8:56 into overtime to lift Napanee to a 3-2 Game 5 overtime win over the Picton Pirates Tuesday night at the SPC.
Both teams skated to a scoreless draw in the opening 20 minutes before Picton’s Devin Morrison got his team on the board 2:37 into the second. Cameron Krupa responded for Napanee at 12:44 to knot the game at 1-1.
Ben Chubbs gave Napanee their first lead of the night at 8:56 of the third, putting the Pirates’ season on the brink. Noah Brant responded to keep their hopes alive, scoring just under a minute and a half later to once again bring the teams even.
That’s where it stayed until overtime when Edwards banked home the winner.
Napanee’s Bailey Maracle picked up the win, his fourth of the series, making 29 saves in the series clincher. Picton’s Nolan Lane turned in a strong effort, stopping 44 pucks.
Noah Westwater led the way with four goals in the series including Sunday’s hat trick. Ben White had three goals while Logan White and Rheydan McCoy had two each.
Napanee captured the semifinals four games to one, winning Game 1 by a score of 4-1, Game 2 by a score of 2-0 and Game 4 by a count of 3-2. Picton’s lone win came in Game 3, picking up a 4-2 road win.
Though the series only went five games each one was a competitive one and the Pirates showed they could hold their own against the favoured Raiders.
With the win Napanee advances to their third straight Tod Division finals. They’ll now wait to see who their opponent will be. The top-seeded Amherstview Jets hold the inside track with a 3-0 series lead over the Port Hope Panthers heading into Wednesday’s Game 4.