Jan. 29: Guelph 3 – Lakehead 2 (Overtime)

In their second game against the Lakehead Thunderwolves in as many nights, the Gryphons were hoping to come away with a big win to help in their run for the playoffs.  In a game full of excitement it seemed only fitting that it would have to be decided in overtime and it would be Gryphon defenseman, Pat Campbell (Sauble Beach, Ont.) who would bury the game-winner for the home team.  Taking the 3-2 victory tonight (Jan. 30), the Gryphons upset the Thunderwolves in both games, stealing a 2-1 win in the game last night (Jan. 29) as well.

While Pat Campbell got the glory for putting home the game-winner, Justin Gvora (Thunder Bay, Ont.) was the offensive star for the Gryphons this evening, netting the tying goal midway through the third and tallying assists on both of the other Gryphon goals.  Andrew Merrett (Vernon, Ont.) also looked very solid tonight with a goal and an assist, while managing to keep up an aggressive front all game.

Lakehead's points were distributed evenly between three Thunderwolves.  Victor Annilane (Gothenburg, Sweden) and Ryan Magill (Thunder Bay, Ont.) each picked up a goal and an assist, while Brennan Menard (Thunder Bay, Ont.) chipped in two helpers.

Andrew Loverock started for the Gryphons again this evening and showed his teammates he has what it takes to be the go-to guy, stopping 30 of 32 shots and coming away with the win.

At the opposite end of the ice, Alex Dupuis (Thunder Bay, Ont.) also got his second-straight start and performed well for the Thunderwolves, making 30 saves, but unfortunately suffering the loss.

With the win the Gryphons find themselves moving up the ranks in the OUA West, now sitting in 6th with a 12-10-2 record.  Lakehead remains in 3rd in the OUA West, but their record slides to 14-8-2.

Both the Gryphons and Thunderwolves came out strong in the first period of action.  Staying relatively even throughout twenty minutes, the Thunderwolves outshot the Gryphons 10-9, but it would be the Gryphons who would pot the first goal and take the 1-0 lead at 14:15.

Facing off in the Lakehead zone, Matt Lyall won the draw cleanly back and the puck was scooped up by Gvora.  Dancing around the edge of the faceoff circle to find an open lane, Gvora broke to the net then dished the puck to Merrett, who was straddling the goal line.  Merrett made a quick deke in front of Dupuis and, smoothly transferring to his backhand, buried the puck, five-hole, on the Lakhead netminder.

Lakehead worked themselves into a great opportunity to even the score with just under a minute left in the frame, but Loverock came up big for the Gryphons, sprawling across the crease and covering up the puck outstretched on his back.

Lakehead came out refreshed in the second period, looking to even the score and managed to accomplish that and more. Lakehead would catch a lucky break on their first goal, as Gvora, on his way to pick up the puck deep in the zone, tripped and slid into the endboards, leaving the puck free for the taking.  The Thunderwolves gained possession and the puck was sent to Magill, who took advantage of an open opportunity and snapped the puck behind Loverock before he could adjust.

With the score now even at one, both teams battled to gain the lead and Lakehead would jump on top after a miscommunication by the Gryphons resulted in a turnover in their own zone.  Menard would get a quick chance in alone on Loverock, who made the initial save, but Annilane was sitting on the doorstep and banged the loose puck into the back of the net.  The Thunderwolves would enjoy a 2-1 lead heading to their dressing room after forty minutes.

The Gryphons were reignited in the third period and let Lakehead know early in the frame that they weren't going down easy, getting a number of good opportunities while on back-to-back penalty kills.  Eventually the Gryphons' efforts would pay off and they would knot the game at two on a goal by Gvora at 12:49 in the period.

Gvora would end the play in style, but it was the aggressive play of Merrett along the boards that provided Gvora with an open chance on Dupuis.  Engaging and challenging a Lakehead defender just inside the Thunderwolves' blue line, Merrett poked the puck to teammate Gvora, who was left to take on Dupuis head-on.  Pulling out an arsenal of moves to confuse the Lakehead goalie, Gvora approached the top of the crease and neatly tucked the puck under the pad of Dupuis. 

With the score tied 2-2 both squads moved the puck quickly and kept the tempo high in the hope of squeezing ahead of their opponent.  However, regulation wouldn't be enough to decide the game and overtime followed soon after the buzzer for the end of the third.

It would only take half of the overtime period to find a winner in this one.  Making another solid effort to find an open lane, Gvora worked the puck to the faceoff circle to the left of Dupuis and wired a shot off the goaltender's mask.  Seemingly shaken up on play, Dupuis was slow to adjust and Campbell, racing down from the point, fired the rebound on net and rung the puck loudly off the post and into the meshing. 

Sealing the 3-2 victory, the goal light ignited and the Gryphon bench emptied, as the team swarmed the owner of the game-winner along the boards.

The Gryphons will be back in action on Thursday, when they will host the visiting Waterloo Warriors.  The puck will drop at 7:30pm at the Gryphon Centre.

GAME SUMMARY
Lakehead 2 at Guelph 3 (OT)
Saturday, January 29, 2011 - Gryphon Centre Arena

Lakehead 0 2 0 0 - 2
Guelph 1 0 1 1 - 3

1st Period-1, Guelph, Merrett 5 (Lyall, Gvora), 14:15. Penalties-Kusy Gue (interference), 5:26; Thibert Lkhd (holding), 10:59; McDonald Lkhd (roughing after the whistle), 16:23; Kusy Gue (roughing after the whistle), 16:23.

2nd Period-2, Lakehead, Magill 3 (Menard, Anilane), 8:29. 3, Lakehead, Anilane 7 (Menard, Magill), 16:30. Penalties-Beljo Lkhd (checking to the head, 10-minute misconduct), 4:17; Welsh Lkhd (cross checking), 13:35; Hyvarinen Lkhd (cross checking), 17:23; Magill Lkhd (tripping), 20:00.

3rd Period-4, Guelph, Gvora 4 (Merrett), 12:49. Penalties-McInerney Gue (tripping), 2:33; Lyall Gue (interference), 6:11; Beljo Lkhd (roughing), 16:05.

OT Period-5, Guelph, Campbell 2 (Gvora, Gale), 2:09. Penalties-No Penalties

Shots on Goal
Lakehead 10-11-11-0-32
Guelph 9-10-12-2-33.

Power Play Opportunities
Lakehead 0 / 3; Guelph 0 / 6.

Goalies
Lakehead, Dupuis 9-8-0 (33 shots-30 saves).
Guelph, Loverock 5-6-0 (32 shots-30 saves)