Adam Prudhomme
Editor
Facing a win or go home situation on Thursday night, the Napanee Raiders came out firing, rolling to a 5-1 victory over the Clarington Eagles in Bowmanville.
The win extends the Raiders season at least one more game, though they still trail the PJHL Eastern Conference Final series 3-2. They’ll look to even the series on home ice Saturday at the SPC starting at 7:30 p.m.
Struggling to get any offence going just 24 hours earlier in a Game 4 loss, Napanee found a way to solve Eagles keeper Oliver Webster with three unanswered goals in the second on Thursday night. Reid Lambert, Ben White and Blake Aylesworth each accounted for the scoring. Oliver didn’t return for the third period, giving way to back up Jude Rondina, who finished with three saves on four chances.
Jordan Shaw scored Clarington’s lone goal at the 3:55 mark of the third, providing a bit of hope for the home team. Cole Campbell replied for Napanee at 8:19 to sway momentum back in their favour. Marshall McFarland sealed the win with an empty net goal with a little over a minute remaining.
Logan Vale stood tall in net for Napanee with 31 saves on the night.
The SPC is sure to be rocking Saturday night as the Raiders look to push this series to the limit. Oddly enough the Raiders are yet to win at home in two games this series. Home cooking was good to them during the regular season, as they went 12-7 with two ties at the SPC. In the playoffs however they’ve gone 6-4 in Napanee, and 0-2 in this series, compared to 7-3 overall on the road.
That stat bodes well if they can win Saturday as Game 7 will be back in Bowmanville, where Napanee is 2-1 so far, the lone loss coming in overtime.