Hard back

Dukes overwhelm Aurora to end losing skid

The Wellington Dukes snapped a four-game losing streak in resounding fashion on Friday night in Wellington. It was a solid win against an Aurora team that played most of this game above their heads—keen to topple the mighty Dukes. Indeed, the victory was more profound that the score—6-1—indicated (it could have easily been 10-1 but for an athletic Aurora netminder and couple of unforgiving posts).

It was the return of the Dukes’ unrelenting tenacity that wore these Tigers into tabbies.

Daniel Panetta had already vacated the scene by the time the puck crossed the line, after Frank Vitucci completed the give-and-go late in the second period. The Dukes went onto defeat the Aurora Tigers 6-1.

The game, when played at this high level, features repetitive aspects. Set structures that get used over and over again. For example, a breakout from one’s own end typically starts with the puck and a defenceman behind his own netminder. Wingers swirl at centre in synchronicity. A pass to the one of the wingers. Another pass perhaps and out of the zone the team flies.

On the other side, the opposing side seeks to flush the puck carrier behind the net, before the breakout is set. But if the puck carrier manages to escape and gain speed, they often have a bit of a lane with which to take the puck up ice—with the flushing player trailing. Once out of reach, that forward typically releases their target leaving it to teammates in the neutral zone to stop the rush. This is how it is done a dozen or more so times per game.

Not so with the Dukes. Wellington’s aggressive backcheckers believe, with good reason, that no puck carrier is out of reach—not worth chasing down. So it is that the Dukes flushing forward, more often than not, bends his head forward, pushes his legs and reels in the unsuspecting puck carrier.

Dukes fans have seen it so often, they are getting used to it. But opposing teams don’t know what is hitting them until they’ve been stripped of the puck and the rush is going back toward their own net. So it was that Aurora forwards were stunned to find Daniel Panetta, Dawson Ellis, Ben Woodhouse, Ryan Smith and others picking their pockets. Over and over again. With ease.

Aurora had played well. But they didn’t have an answer for the Dukes’ relentless checking. That was the difference. As it is most nights that Wellington earns a win.

DUKES 6 – AURORA 1
Aurora netminder Christian Fillapetti certainly gave his team a chance in this game, particularly in the early going. Big (6 ft 2 in) and acrobatic, Filappetti was typically able to stop the Dukes’ first shot, and then relied upon flailing limbs to block the second or third.

But midway through the first period, Quinn Hanna’s shot bounced off the netminder onto new Dukes player Brodie McDougall’s stick in the blue paint. A big body in front of Filappetti. A shift to his left, McDougall slid the puck around the netminder—his first in a Dukes jersey.

The game opened up a bit in the second— the Dukes’ checking wearing down the visiting Tigers. Ben Evans, having his best game in a month, dangled through the mid-slot, shovelled a little pass to Brett Humberstone sneaking in from the point. Wrister. Far corner. Top shelf. The Dukes led 2-0.

Just over a minute later. Evans swept down the wing, on the power play, and fired from roughly the same spot as Humberstone. Same corner. Dukes were rolling 3-0.

Later in the second, Aurora scored, spoiling a strong outing by Matt Dunsmoor. Only a handful of Aurora’s 36 shots could be described as legitimate scoring chances, but those handful were spectacular. The most impressive was a toe-save on a penalty kill in the third. (In the work-in-progress department, the Dukes gave up way too many odd-man rushes in this game—particularly in the third period.)

Meanwhile, back in the later stages of the second period, Frank Vitucci finished a lessthan- elegant give-and-go with Daniel Panetta to restore the Dukes’ three-goal lead. Evans tallied again in the third. As did Vitucci with a brilliant snipe to round out the scoring.

So it was that the Dukes returned to their winning ways. Despite the Tigers’ low ranking, they believed they could compete against the Dukes. For a while, it seemed a plausible notion. But they weren’t prepared for the Dukes checking—in every corner of the ice. And that was the difference.

UP NEXT
The Dukes played in Whitby on Tuesday. The game was played after The Times deadline. The outcome could set up a particularly interesting head-to-head match-up with the Trenton Golden Hawks on Friday in Wellington—the final game of 2019.

With a win in Whitby, the Dukes will have moved to within two points of the East Division-leading Golden Hawks—and the chance to head into the Christmas break with a share of first place. A festive way to end the year.

Indeed, the Mississauga Chargers made things interesting on Saturday, challenging Trenton. The Golden Hawks had won every game they had played since the Dukes played them to a 2-2 tie on November 10. But in Mississauga, Trenton never had the lead until the third period. The Golden Hawks required three power play goals—on four man-advantage opportunities to edge the Chargers 5-4, salvaging the win. And ensuring Trenton retains a share of first place over the break.

Trenton has had a brilliant season, but have not yet managed to beat the Dukes in four outings.