In tough

On the back of a disappointing losing skid, Dukes face three tough opponents this week

It was a tough game to lose. A game that got away from the Dukes. A loss that defies easy explanation.

The Wellington Dukes were up by a pair of goals by Nic Mucci. Mitch Mendonca had assisted in both. The Dukes had utterly controlled the play—allowing Kingston just 14 shots over two periods. Meanwhile, the Dukes had pelted the Voyageurs netminder with 34 shots.

Then came the difficult-to-explain-bit. Two minutes into the third period, Kingston’s second line scored. It would stay like this until the midway mark in the third. Just over 10 minutes away from going home with a bounce-back win. Then disaster. The same line scored again. The Dukes were reeling. Two minutes later, Kingston scored again to take the lead. The Voyageurs sealed the win, scoring again near the end of the period.

The bitter taste of a game lost in the last period will linger.

Things didn’t get better at home.

It would seem that in Buffalo, junior hockey players are taught to use their sticks primarily as a means of tenderizing the flesh of swift-footed opponents. The favoured technique is to grab the stick’s shaft firmly with two fists, square it up perpendicular to your opposing player, and jam it forcefully into the midsection—spine, ribs, etc.—knocking the speedy forward to the ice. Once down, you continue to jam the stick into the prone player with pneumatic regularity. That is until someone pulls you off.

Referees assessed an abundance of crosschecking penalties against Buffalo on Friday night—one so egregious, so Dr. Hook McCracken in its intent—that it earned the player a 5-minute major penalty. The penalties did little to deter them. But neither did the Dukes’ power play.

Despite seven man-advantage opportunities, the Dukes could muster only one power play goal—Colin Doyle’s marker in the second period tying the game at a goal apiece.

The Dukes’ power play has been converting at the anemic rate of 15 per cent—the league’s best power play, Trenton, capitalizes on a third of their chances by comparison.

“Our power play has struggled the entire season, which complicates the offensive problems even more,” said Dukes coach and GM Marty Abrams. “There is no doubt that this team needs to continue to improve, which I have said from the start of the season, in order for us to compete in this league.”

Justin Bean’s shot midway through the frame beat the Buffalo netminder, lifting Wellington into a one-goal lead. But it was shortlived. Less than two minutes later, the Junior Sabres scored to knot the game at two again.

Then the backbreaker. With Brayden Stortz in the box for hooking, Buffalo scored on the power play.

In the third, the Junior Sabres pulled away, scoring again on the first shift of the period. The penalties, the fights and the roughing-after-the-whistle calls took over. In the meantime, Buffalo added another—sealing a 5-2 assault on the Dukes.

“We have played well in most of the games lately,” said Abrams. “But we are falling short on the offensive side of the game. We had taken over 100 shots on goal during the Kingston and Buffalo games, but struggled to score. Meanwhile, our opponents were focusing on our top line, which prompted us to split them up.”

UP NEXT: STOUFFVILLE, COBOURG, AND WHITBY
The schedule gets tougher this week against three strong opponents. More challenging is the fact that the Dukes’ top four point-getters and their number one netminder have been in Cornwall all week skating in the Eastern Canada Cup Challenge featuring all-star teams comprised of players from the CCHL, MHL, QJHL and the OJHL. That tournament wraps up today.

Then the Dukes get on the bus on Thursday to visit the North Division leader, the Stouffville Spirit. In early October, the Dukes and the Spirit played to a 2-2 draw. Stouffville beat Trenton a month ago, but hasn’t won against an East Division team since then.

On Friday, the Dukes are back at home to welcome the Cobourg Cougars. The Dukes have emerged victorious from two previous meetings with Cobourg this season. The RBC Cup hosts will be hungry for a win, however—they have just a single win in their last five games.

On Sunday, the Dukes welcome Whitby to Wellington. A month ago the Fury edged the Dukes by a 4-3 score.

“We are in tough—there’s no doubt about it,” said Abrams.