Adam Prudhomme
Editor
Reid Lambert scored five minutes into overtime to deliver the Napanee Raiders to a much-needed 3-2 overtime road win over the Clarington Eagles on Sunday afternoon.
The win gives the Raiders some life in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference Finals, though they still trail two-games-to-one.
Napanee Raider Logan Vale tracks the airborne puck during Sunday’s Game 3. Photo by Adam Prudhomme.
The prognosis wasn’t looking good for Napanee through 40 minutes of play as they were outshot 31-21 with no goals on the board. Though the Eagles did control the pace of play for much of the first two periods, they mustered just one goal from the stick of Kyle Smith at 7:42 of the second stanza.
Logan Vale watches as things get chippy after a whistle as the intensity picks up in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Photo by Adam Prudhomme.
Facing the possibility of falling behind 3-0 in the series, the Raiders dug deep and came out with a more complete effort in the third. Christos Chronis tied the game at 7:57 on the power-play. Michael Patrick gave Napanee its first lead of the game at 11:54.
Napanee captain Marshall McFarland (right) battles for the puck. Photo by Adam Prudhomme.
Clarington’s Kayden Hambly responded at 13:55 to tie it at 2-2, which is where the game would stand after regulation.
Lambert delivered in the clutch with his second overtime winner of these playoffs, scoring on Napanee’s third shot of extra time.
Logan Vale stepped up between the pipes for Napanee with 43 saves, out-duelling Eagles net minder Oliver Webster, who had 34 stops.
Napanee now has the chance to tie the series Wednesday night on home ice when the series heads to the Strathcona Paper Centre. Game time is 7:30 p.m.
Game 4 goes right after on Thursday at Eagles’ home, the Garnet B. Rickard Recreation Complex in Bowmanville at 7:25 p.m.
If the Raiders can extend the series to a Game 6, it would go April 20 at the SPC at 7:30 p.m.
If Game 7 is needed it’ll be in Bowmanville on April 21 at 3:35 p.m.