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Sarnia, ON -
After a five goal first period, the Sarnia
Legionnaires were able to hang on to their lead as
the London Nationals chipped away at it the rest of
the game, but ultimately fell short 7-5, as the
Legionnaires pick up their first victory of the new
years.
"We were
really good at times. We played well the first
period obviously and then the second period we got
into a little bit of penalty trouble there," said
Head Coach Dan Rose. "Momentum shifted, they fought
through it and give them credit, they lost last
night and I don't think they wanted to lose
tonight."
Sarnia
chased London goalie Jacob Riley from the net for a
quick breather after the Legionnaires scored four
goals in the first half of the first period.
Derek
D'Andrea started the scoring, getting a pass from
Nathan Mater who created a turnover at the blue line
with a body check, leaving D'Andrea with a 2-on-1 in
which he kept and fired a shot to the top of the
net, opening the scoring 1:29 into the game.
The
momentum continued for the period as London had
challenges of clearing the puck, and Riley had
rebound control issues. Tyler Cicchini picked up a
rebound on the second shot to come off Riley's pad
to make it a 2-0 lead.
London
would cut the lead in half with a wrist shot from
the blue line by Jake Monaghan, but the Legionnaires
would restore the two goal lead on the power play,
as Evan Dixon would pick up a rebound goal for the
3-1 lead.
The
Legionnaires continued to ride the momentum as
D'Andrea would get his second of the game from
another rebound goal, as Mater would again spot
D'Andrea for the goal. Brent Sauve would pick up the
Legionnaires fifth goal of the period and second on
the power play, pulling a give and go with Shawn
Waldie to make it 5-1 after the first period.
In the
second, London would notch another goal on the power
play, as Aaron Dartch scored on a 5 on 3, but the
Nationals stilled trailed by three goals heading
into the third.
With
twenty minutes to go, the Legionnaires seemingly had
it locked up, but the wheels fell of quickly as Paul
Hokpins scored a pair of goals 37 seconds a part,
one short handed to bring the Nationals to within
one.
The game
would go silent on the goal sheet for the majority
of the period as the Nationals looked to tie. Sarnia
would again take a two goal lead after Nathan Mater
found Brent Sauve in front for a tap in goal,
picking up his third assist on the night.
 London
would pull the goalie and with Sarnia on a penalty,
would again cut the lead back down to one with only
nine seconds left to play, as Hopkins would pick up
his hat-trick in the third period. But Sauve would
also pick up his hat-trick, beating out an icing
call and putting the puck into the open net for his
third of the night, sealing the Legionnaires victory
7-5.
"This
league is all about momentum, three goal leads mean
nothing in this league, they never have," said Rose.
"That is two games in a row where we have had a lead
and let up a little bit."
With the
victory Sarnia sits on top of the Western Conference
with 48 points, four points ahead of London and two
games in hand as well. And although it is where Rose
likes to be, he isn't counting out any of the teams
below, including Leamington, St. Thomas and LaSalle.
"There
isn't any teams I would count out of it. They are
all decent hockey teams," said Rose. "It just showed
right there, London is a good hockey team that
didn't quit. We are only two-thirds of the way
through the schedule. It does feel good to be
sitting where we are sitting right now."
Kyle
Washer made 25 saves for his 15th victory of the
season.
Sarnia
heads to Lambton Shores on Friday for a game against
the struggling Predators.
Follow Sarniasports on twitter
@sarniasports.
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