Kilty B’s edge Falcons in triple OT
It took nearly six periods and four hours, but the Hamilton Kilty B’s staved off elimination Friday night at Jack Gatecliff Arena.
The Kilty B’s topped the St. Catharines Falcons 2-1 in triple overtime in Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League, Golden Horseshoe Conference playoff action.
The Kilty B’s, who were fighting for their season, still trail the best-of-seven semifinal playoff series 3-2.
The Falcons can advance to the finals versus the Niagara Falls Canucks with a win in Game 6 in Hamilton Sunday. Game 7, if necessary, is Monday in St. Catharines.
The Kilty B’s won the game when Chris Ishmael’s wrist shot from the point deflected off a Falcon in front of the net and just over the shoulder of Falcons netminder Noah Battaglia with just under two minutes to play in the sixth period.
That set off the Kilty B’s, who poured out on the ice in celebration, while the Falcons congratulated Battaglia, before quickly and quietly retreating to their dressing room.
“That was an unbelievable hockey game to be part of, as a coach, as a player, as a fan,” Falcons assistant coach Rick Girhiny said. “Somebody has to win and somebody has to lose. We’re proud of all of them, from the goalie, to the defencemen, to the forwards.
“It’s playoffs and they were coming in here tonight and they knew it was win or lose. Hats off to them. They played a great game and got one more goal tonight.”
The Falcons with without head coach Frank Girhiny and captain Kyle West who were each suspended for one game following a scuffle on the ice following Game 4 in Hamilton Thursday.
Rick Girhiny said the important thing for the Falcons now is to turn the page and focus on winning the series Sunday.
“You’re allowed to have a 30-second funeral, then get over it and get ready for Sunday,” he said.
Both teams were understandably spent after playing four games in five nights, with the last three going to overtime.
The Falcons were also without forwards Carson Edwardson, who did not finish the game, and Nicholas Boehmer, who played only a shift or two early on.
“It is tough but I would imagine they went through the same thing,” Rick Girhiny said. “They had guys going down and going to the dressing room too.
“It’s the next man up and try and get the job done. We had our chances — there was no shortage of chances — but then they got the triple overtime bounce and it went in the net.”
The Kilty B’s scored the opening goal for the first time in the series when Freddie Teeple slid a shot under Battaglia while sitting on the ice just in front of the crease. The Falcons were outshot 10-5 although they did clang two shots off the crossbar.
The Kilty B’s kept the Falcons bottled up for most of the second until Dakota Miskolczi solved Marco Costantini with 21 seconds remaining. The Kilty B’s outshot the Falcons 11-7.
The Falcons finally found their legs in the third period and peppered Costantini with 12 shots while permitting only four.
Costantini ended up making 64 saves while Battaglia kicked out 48 shots.
Falcon facts: Kyle West (suspension), Noah Blakely (wrist) and Ethan Sims did not dress for the Falcons . . . Linesmen Andre Grougrou and Cal Myerscough had a rough night, including an egregious oversight on an obvious icing call in the second by Hamilton that was inexplicably waved off.
Kilty B’s 2 Falcons 1 3 OT
BPSN Star of the Game: Hamilton goalie Marco Costantini with 64 saves.
St. Catharines Falcons: Dakota Miskolczi (2).
Hamilton Kilty B’s: Freddie Teeple (4); Chris Ishmael (2).
Game stats: Shots on goal: By St. Catharines on Costantini (65), by Hamilton on Noah Battaglia (50); Power plays: St. Catharines 0-for-2, Hamilton 0-for-4; Penalty minutes: St. Catharines 18, Hamilton 4.
Attendance: 727
Up next: The Falcons can advance to the finals versus the Niagara Falls Canucks with a win in Game 6 in Hamilton Sunday. Game 7, if necessary, is Monday in St. Catharines.
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