NEWS

(pictured - Kingston's Ryan Watson one-time's the puck past Toronto's Mathew Robson midway through the 3rd period to knot game five of the OJHL Championship Series at one en route to a 2-1 victory in overtime, sending the series back to Kingston for game six - photo credit:  Brian Watts/OJHL Images)

For the second consecutive game, it was a low-scoring, defensive affair that once again needed extra time to get solved, this time with a role reversal from game four of the series.

The first was a relatively tame period based on the previous four games of the series.  Both teams had opportunities, including a couple of odd-man rushes, but once again both netminders were up to the task.  Daniel Urbani stopped nine Patriot shots for Kingston, while his counterpart Mathew Robson made eight save for the home side.  

The second period saw the physical intensity pick-up once again with the clubs combining for 24 penalty minutes and man advantage opportunities.  The lone goal came just a minute into the frame as a bouncing puck deep in the Voyageurs end, saw Patriots winger Mitch Emerson end up with it on his stick.  Curling in the corner, he found Nathan Feric cutting through the slot and showing some patience to wait out Urbani, he slid the puck back through the crease and it was cut-off by Vees defenceman Jaylon Gorman as it trickled across the goal line for the early 1-0 lead.  Once again the netminders shut the door with the shots 10-6 in favour of Kingston.

Just 20 minutes away from a second consecutive Buckland Cup title, the Patriots knew it wouldn't be an easy task with the 'Never say die' Voyageurs, who have already comeback from a 3-0 series deficit in round two versus the regular season champion Aurora Tigers.  With the game seemingly in hand and throwing everything they had at Urbani, it was the Vees that found the back of the net midway through the frame.  Adam Moodie intercepted a neutral zone pass and carried it deep into Toronto's end, waiting until the last possible moment to flip a quick pass out to Ryan Watson, who made no mistake in banging it past Robson.  Final shots were 9-7 in favour of Toronto and 25-24 in favour of Kingston through 60 minutes as we were off to overtime knotted at one for the second straight contest.

Overtime would once again be an exciting back-and-forth affair with both teams trading opportunities and Urbani/Robson continuing to be the deciding factor.  The turning point would come 14:13 into the extra session as Quinn Syrydiuk and Joey Beaudoin chased the puck into the corner and Syrydiuk accidentally got his stick up into Beaudoin's face for a clear high-sticking minor.  Having failed to score on the power play thus far in the Championship Series, the Vees used the OT opportunity to their advantage as Mike Crocock fed a pass into the slot that was redirected between Robson's legs by Adam Brady for his 15th and 3rd game-winner of the post-season, sending the series home to Kingston for game six.

Final shots in the game were 33-28 in favour of the Voyageurs, who for the second time in this playoff season look to continue an uphill comeback.