Skid

Dukes look to end slide on Friday

December is turning into a forgettable month for the Wellington Dukes. After compiling an unbeaten streak through November, the Dukes have dropped four in a row. Since losing 3-1 to Cobourg in Wellington on November 29, the Dukes have lost three road games, dropping Wellington into second place in points and winning percentage.

Penalties remain a yoke around their necks—16 minutes disadvantaged in three games. Four power play goals against. Perhaps not a difference-maker—but it sure is harder to win games with one arm tied behind your back.

The engine who could: Dawson Ellis finishes his check in a game recently in Trenton. Ellis has earned seven points in his past five games, including a pair of goals, one of which was scored short-handed. It was his third short-handed goal of the season.

More attention is required in the Duke’s zone. Quick exits from their own zone, once routine, have been bogged down lately. Poise became over-confidence and is now giving way to confusion in the defensive zone.

The good news is that there are still three games in December to stanch the bleeding—to fix some of the defensive issues. The first, against Aurora this Friday, will be key to understanding whether the last week was a blip or a worrying trend.

BUFFALO 7 – WELLINGTON 5
The Dukes visited Buffalo last Wednesday, the first of a three-game West Division road swing. This was a wild and woolly affair—12 goals in total—with the lead going back and forth the entire game. Five goals were scored on the power play, while Dawson Ellis scored a brilliant shorthanded goal. But his effort was nullified 30 seconds later when Buffalo scored on the same power play.

It was that kind of night. Jake Gagnon had a pair of goals and an assist. Dawson Ellis and Quinn Hanna earned a goal and assist. Matt Dunsmoor took the loss. The Dukes were outshot 36-31.

BURLINGTON 6 – WELLINGTON 3
On Friday the Dukes were in Burlington. For the second game in a row, the Dukes carried a tie well into the game only to see it slip away. New Dukes player Justin Paul scored, as did Daniel Panetta and Ben Woodhouse. But a power play goal in the second allowed the Cougars to slip ahead. Wellington turned up the pressure firing 29 shots in the final two frames, but only managed to give up another goal. An empty-net marker sealed it.

GEORGETOWN 3 – WELLINGTON 2
In Georgetown, on Saturday both teams leaned heavily on their netminders early. Despite a bucket of pucks fired towards both netminders, The game remained scoreless until Quinn Hanna score on the power play midway through the second. But moments later, former Dukes player Graeme McCrory set up linemate Nolan Dann. Twice.

The Raiders added another early in the third. Dawson Ellis tallied for the Dukes to narrow the gap to a goal. But that was as close as they would come. Brandon Brazeau earned a pair of assists and stayed out of the penalty box. Matt Dunsmoor took the loss.

UP NEXT: AURORA AND WHITBY
The Tigers have lost nine of their last 10 games. They’ve won just five all season. But that makes them dangerous. They are playing on pride. After giving up five straight losses at home, Aurora beat the Markham Royals this past Saturday.

The Dukes have a huge opportunity to turn this minislump around on Friday.

On Tuesday, Wellington heads over to Whitby. There is some animus between these teams, but the Dukes will surely be focused on hockey and getting out of Durham with a couple of points.