Meteors top RedHawks to take 2-0 series lead
The Fort Erie Meteors defeated the Cambridge RedHawks 4-1 in Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League playoff action Tuesday at the Galt Arena Gardens. File Photo: BERNIE PUCHALSKI
The Fort Erie Meteors rode a strong second period to a 4-1 victory over the Cambridge RedHawks in Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League best-of-seven quarter-final playoff action Tuesday at the Galt Arena Gardens.
The Meteors lead the series 2-0 with Game 3 Saturday night at the Leisureplex.
Following a scoreless opening period that saw the Meteors hold a 16-8 edge in shots in goal, Fort Erie netted three goals in the second in a span of less than 12 minutes.
Dylan Coers opened the scoring before Derek Smyth added a short-handed marker and Caleb Bidgood a goal at even strength.
“We just broke through in the second,” Fort Erie general/manager coach Nik Passero said. “I thought we were really good in the first 20 and we just found a goal there in the second and then kind of rolled and got a big PK goal and then goal from our third line.
“It was a good team effort.”
Kyle Adamo netted a power-play goal just 19 second into the third to increase Fort Erie’s lead to 4-0.
Josh Kauffman spoiled John Lloyd’s bid for a shutout at 11:39 of the third.
“We’re a pretty good defensive team and we struggled holding on to lead there in the last week of the season but I thought the guys did a good job today of keeping the foot on the gas and pushing it,” Passero said.
Lloyd made 26 saves for the win while Lennart Neisse faced 34 shots in goal for Cambridge.
The Meteors were by far the more disciplined club, taking a lone minor penalty while the RedHawks were called for 26 minutes in penalties on nine infractions.
“When we got up there by a couple goals we had the puck for most of the night and they were chasing us,” Passero said. “That kind of plays into our hands. So as long as we manage our emotions and manage the puck, I think we’ll be fine.”
The Meteors can take a 3-0 stranglehold on the series with a win on home ice Saturday.
“We don’t want to give them any breathing room there,” Passero said. “We want to make sure we’re good in practice here the next couple of days and come to Fort Erie on Saturday ready to go.”
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