
Weekend recap
***Photo---Lincolns during a timeout Friday night***
The Lincolns only had one game last weekend and for the first time since Jan. 6th the Lincolns were able to win a game in regulation time as they defeated the Strathroy Rockets 6-3 on home ice.
Things didn't look good early as the Rockets took a 2-0 lead by the 6:48 mark with goals from Derek Nap (powerplay) and Tyler Duarte. The Lincolns cut the lead in half at the 10:57 as on a delayed penalty to the Rockets Blake Thompsons shot from the point beat a screened Rockets goalie. Calvin Penney and Brady Wiffen assisted on the goal. The Rockets out shot the Lincolns 15-12 in the 1st period.
The 2nd period was all the Lincolns as 2 early goals lifted the Lincolns into the lead. At 1:03 Tyler Bryson scored his 2nd goal of the season with Mitchell Berzins and Mitch McIntosh getting the assists. Then 52 seconds later Brendon Merritt scored his 17th on the season with assists from the same Berzins and McIntosh giving the Lincolns a 3-2 lead. The Lincolns went up 4-2 as Reid Oliver scored his 18th goal of the season at the 5:06 mark with assists to Kurtis Lavis and Mike Manderelli. The Lincs outshot the Rockets 12-8 in the period.
In the 3rd the Rockets narrowed the Lincs lead to 4-3 at the 6:51 mark as Davis Brown scored his 42nd goal on the season. Brown is the goal scoring leader in the GOJHL. With the worry in their minds of not holding a 2 goal lead and head to another overtime game Brady Wiffen's wrist shot from the slot gave the Lincolns their 2 goal lead back at the 13:25 mark. Penney and Bryson got the assists on the goal. Then late in the game while the Rockets were on a powerplay with their goalie pulled for a extra attacker Wiffen scored into a empty net to ice the game away. That was Wiffen's 27 goal on the season and 6th goal in his last 3 games. Sean Consitt and Thompson assisted on the empty net goal. The Lincolns were outshot 38-29 in the game but strong goaltending from Craig Wood helped the Lincolns get the victory.
TEAM NOTES:
After going 3 games without getting a point Brady Wiffen has 6 goals and 2 assists in his last 3 games.
Reid Oliver in on a 7 game point streak picking up 4 goals and 5 assists in those 7 games.
Blake Thompson has picked up 8 points in his 10 games since being picked up in a trade from Listowel.
Brendon Merritt has picked up 7 points in his 10 games since he was acquired in a trade with Lambton Shores.
Craig Wood has only suffered one regulation time lost in his last 7 starts in net.
After weekend action the Lincolns sit in 5th place. 2 points behind both London and St. Thomas who are tied for 3rd place. The Lincolns are 2 points up on 6th place Strathroy. The Lincolns have just 4 games remaining in the season. This weekend they host Sarnia on Friday night and travel to Chatham Sunday night. Sarnis is in 1st place with a 8 point lead on 2nd place Leamington while Chatham is trying to hold off the surging Lambton Shores Predators for the final playoff spot. The Predators have won 6 in a row and both teams have 41 points and 4 games remaining.