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Dukes simplify their game, play hard nose hockey for the win

The Wellington Dukes are back. Playing a flawlessly simply game, the Dukes skated faster, worked harder and battled harder, pushing their way back into the NorthEast semi-final series with the Newmarket Hurricanes. The Dukes proved they are the better team. To themselves. To their fans and to their opponents. That resolve will be tested on Thursday night as the series resumes in Newmarket.

Jonah Capriotti was back in the Dukes net, fresh from a four-games suspension. And his presence was noticed immediately. But particularly so late in the game as the Hurricanes threw everything at the Dukes in an attempt to equalize the score.

Teddy McGeen used his exceptional speed on the penalty kill in the second period to beat every one to the loose puck at centre ice. He picked the puck at top speed, bore down on the Hurricane net and buried his low shot. The shorthanded goal would prove to be the winner.

From the moment the puck dropped, the Dukes chased the Hurricanes, working furiously along the boards, emerging with the puck and creating scoring chances. On one such push the puck came back to defenceman Noah Lugli, also freshly back from suspension. Lugli wired a punishing shot from the point that handcuffed, Newmarket’s netminder Fraser Kirk. Mitchell Martan, reunited with line mates Colin Doyle and Teddy McGeen, buried the rebound. Nothing glorious. Just the pay off for hard work.

In the second period, Mitchell Mendonca was penalized and ejected from the game for checking from behind. (The victim of the check lay on the ice for about two minutes yet managed to recover quickly enough to play on his next shift, and every shift thereafter. Referees tend to remember such things.)

Down a man, Dukes defender Declan Carlile blocked a shot early in the penalty kill. The puck bounced into the neutral zone. The fleet-of-foot Teddy McGeen scooped up the puck and flew down the wing into open ice. Lightning quick. All alone. Shot. Through the feet of Kirk. Short handed goal. The Dukes had a 2-0 lead.

The Dukes killed off the remainder of the penalty—as they had with two previous infractions. With hard work and tenacity.

It wasn’t until the third period that Newmarket finally beat Capriotti. Hurricane’s leading sniper Alex Ierullo, was charging up the wing when the Duke defender lost his footing, tumbling to the ice. Ierullo skated unfettered to the Dukes net. Shot. Stopped. Capriotti made a brilliant stop. But Newmarke’ts Lyam Cripps was right behind Ierullo. He scooped up the rebound and lobbed it over Capriotti. Goal.

Jonah Capriotti turned away 28 shots on Wednesday, 17 in the final period. The Dukes play strong, responsible defensive hockey and Capriotti made the saves when needed.

For the final 15 minutes Newmarket pulled out every weapon, every tactic and every bit of energy they had to score the tying goal. And while they came close, they could not beat the defensive determination by the Dukes. Wellington won 2-1 and now trail the best of seven series two games to one.

And so the series resumes in Newmarket on Thursday. The Dukes know the formula for beating the Hurricane. Simple hockey. Hard work. And tenacity.

The win last night assures that the Dukes will play at home on Friday night.