All quiet

Defenceman Connor Judson patrols the slot as netminder Taylor Welsh directs the puck into the corner.

Dukes struggle to score in opening two games

It was a tough start to the season. Two games. Two losses. Two goals. At this pace, the Dukes’ total goal production this season might approach Darcy Murphy’s 52 goals in 2011-12.

No one, least of all the 2014-15 Dukes expect this trend to continue. They know they must get better. They will get better.

“We are very disappointed in our offensive production, including our power play,” said Marty Abrams, Dukes’ coach and GM. “The power play, in particular, will be a focus this year.”

The disappointing lack of offensive punch masked an otherwise strong start in other aspects of the Dukes’ first two games.

Taylor Welsh was strong in the Dukes’ net—keeping each game within reach. He is a big netminder and positions himself well. He reads the play and reacts very quickly.

“Taylor has played exceptional so far,” said Abrams. “He has generated some NCAA interest because of it. He’s an experienced goaltender who continues to refine his game.”

The Dukes’ defence also played well, particularly in their own zone. Wellington has several younger prospects in the lineup this year— which can put extra pressure on the defence. But by and large, the Dukes blueliners have performed. Though when the rare breakdowns occurred, their opponents pounced to take advantage, putting the puck in the net.

It can’t even be said that the Dukes offense played badly. They just couldn’t bury their chances. In both games on the weekend, the Dukes had the same number of shots on net and the same number of scoring chances as their opponents, who managed to capitalize more often.

It is important to note that the Dukes were missing three of their top guns—Nick DeVito, Marco Azzano and Dylan Mascarin—all three sidelined with injuries.

Joe Leahy had two strong games on the for the Dukes despite a pair of disappointing losses. The Waterloo native brings both size and speed to the Dukes’ blueline.

DeVito and Mascarin are expected back in the lineup in the next week. Azzano is hoping to be back by the end of the month.

Until then, the Dukes will need to dig deeper to find the scoring touch.

COBOURG 3 – DUKES 1
In the season opener the Dukes struck first, as Luc Brown and Erick Delaurentis worked the give-and-go all the way up the right wing, before Delaurentis found the far corner. Just four minutes had elapsed and the Dukes had the lead. The season was off to a positive and raucous start.

But that was the end of the Dukes’ scoring. A few minutes later. a defensive breakdown allowed Cobourg to tie the game. The score remained knotted until early in the third when Cobourg forward Taylor Gauld found Dawson Theede perched at the Welsh’s back door.

Dukes fans waited for the push back. The tying goal. But it never came.

Soon Cobourg had a two-goal lead and their first win of the season.

The Dukes fans went home, hoping for a better result next time.

PICKERING 2 – DUKES 1
But Sunday’s game in Pickering was a virtual replay of the match Cobourg.

The Dukes’ Joe McKeown opened the scoring in the first period, converting a scoring chance created by Brandon Kosik. But that was it.

Early in the second, Pickering tied the score on the power play, with arguably the Dukes’ best penalty killer, Andrew Coupland, in the box.

Pickering took the lead in the third period and hung on for the win.

No one is panicking just yet. But the Dukes will soon have to find a way to score goals or this will be a long season.

It begins, says Abrams, on the power play.

So far the Dukes have failed to score on seven power play opportunities in two games.

They will be better.