Canucks fall in opener
A slow start cost the Niagara Falls Canucks in Game 1 of their Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League, Golden Horseshoe Conference semifinal playoff series against the Caledonia Corvairs.
The Canucks permitted a pair of goals just one minute apart midway through the first and another early in the second as they dropped a 4-2 decision at Caledonia.
“They came out really hard and used their quickness to their advantage,” Canucks coach Frank Pietrangelo said. “We were on our heels a little bit in the first period. I thought as the game went on we got better but it’s tough to come back like that.
“We just adjusted to the speed of the game. We’re coming off a series against Thorold and the last couple of games they tried to trap us so it was a whole different style than we were used to playing the last few weeks.”
Pietrangelo said the Canucks had to stick to their game plan even though they fell behind early.
“Regardless, you have to play the same way against teams like Caledonia. They have so many weapons and so much depth you just can’t throw caution to the wind and try and score goals. It doesn’t work like that or the next thing you know you’ll be down a half-dozen goals.”
Jamey Lauzon and Jesse Barwell scored for the Corvairs in the first before Owen Lane made it 3-0 in the second. The Canucks finally got on the board halfway through the second when Hayden Broomhead scored a power-play goal.
Lane’s second at the 13:30 mark of the third restored Caledonia’s three-goal cushion before Broomhead scored another power-play marker with just over three minutes to play.
The Corvairs outshot the Canucks 37-23, including 19-8 in the first period.
The best-of-seven series continues Friday in Niagara Falls with Game 3 back in Caledonia Saturday.
“We need to play a solid 60 minutes,” Pietrangelo said. “A lead or playing from behind, it doesn’t really matter. We have to play the same way for 60 minutes.
“At this point of the season, being close or competitive isn’t really what you’re looking for. It’s all about wins and losses.”
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