Adam Prudhomme
Editor
Bailey Maracle was a perfect in net as the Napanee Raiders blanked the Port Hope Panthers 4-0 in Wednesday’s Game 5 of the Tod Division semifinals at the SPC, once again keeping their season alive for at least one more game.
Maracle turned away all 33 shots the Panthers fired his way as the Raiders continue to crawl their way back into the series, down three games to two after initially falling behind 3-0.
Ben White got Napanee on the board with a power-play goal 7:17 into the game.
Napanee was able to cling to that lead all the way through the second period before tacking on some insurance just over a minute into the third, courtesy a goal from Soren Zamuner. Marshall McFarland pushed the lead to 3-0 five minutes later and Cameron Krupa put the game out of reach with a power-play goal at 9:21.
Port Hope turned to goalie Sam Dingle for his first start of the series in this one. He finished the night with 34 saves on 38 shots.
They’ll presumably return a well-rested Joseph Clark between the pipes for tomorrow night’s Game 6, to be held in Port Hope. Clark has registered all three of the Panthers’ wins thus far in the series, though Napanee did get to him in Game 5 for a 4-2 victory.
Puck drop for tomorrow night’s game is 8 p.m. at the Jack Burger Sports Complex.
If Napanee can avoid elimination for a third straight game, a winner-take-all goes April 2, back at the SPC. Puck drop for Sunday’s afternoon affair would be 1:30 p.m.