Heart pounding action

Luc Brown (7) stalks a wary Trenton defencemen looking to separate him from the puck.

Nic Mucci had a brilliant game after missing two periods of Game one in the series, including a goal that put the Dukes ahead 3-2.

Sam Tanguay was sensational in the Dukes net backstopping his team to a 3-2 win on Friday night.

Ben Sokay set up Luc Brown’s second period goal.

Dukes take game two in thrill ride in Wellington.

Not every seat was taken—but almost. The few gaps left along the railing that surrounds the ice surface were quickly filled in.  Ninety minutes before the puck dropped, hundreds of fans were milling about the arena—staking out preferred seating or their place along the rail. A long line of fans snaked out from the box office into the Wellington and District Community Centre. Excitement filled the cool March air.

The show on the ice would be worth every penny. Trenton and Wellington faced off in Game two of the best-of-seven North East semi-final series on Friday night. From the first puck drop, the action was intense; checking was close and the speed breathtaking.

The puck went end to end with brilliant scoring chances on both netminders. But it was the Dukes who struck first at the two-minute mark. Jacob Panetta saucered a pass/shot from the point toward the far corner of the net—likely looking for a redirection. The puck sailed through traffic and past the Trenton netminder Daniel Urbani untouched. Get pucks to the net.

The Dukes goal only intensified the action. By the time four minutes had elapsed 13 shots had been fired on net—nine by the Dukes, six by the Golden Hawks.

Late in the first the Dukes’ Justin Bean was penalized for looking. Earlier the Hawks had managed to kill off a man advantage. Trenton was looking for the equalizer. But the Dukes were equal to the task—keeping the powerplay to the outside.

When the teams returned in the second period, a few seconds remained in the Dukes penalty which they managed to kill off. As soon as they returned to even strength, Carter Allan, who is playing brilliantly in the post-season and logging tons of ice time, broke up a Trenton rush in the neutral zone.

He slid the puck forward to Ben Sokay, creating two on one with Luc Brown on the other wing. Sokay held onto the puck down the wing as 1,500 fans insisted he pass across to Brown. When he had convinced everyone he would shoot rather than pass—Sokay saucered a short pass to Brown. It didn’t land cleanly. Brown got a backhand away. Stopped. Rebound. Another backhand and the puck was in the net. The Dukes had a two-goal lead.

It was the first time in the Hawks play-off run that the team had found themselves down by two goals. But there was still plenty of time. Nearly two periods left. It was up to Tanguay now. Waves of Hawks rushes worked there way into the Dukes zone. When the shots came, Tanguay was there. When they came like automatic gunfire—he was there.

Some of Trenton’s best chances came when they were down a man. Twice in the second period, the Trenton’s forwards found open ice between them and Tanguay. Each time the Dukes netminder closed the door.

It is important remember that the 20-year-old netminder was acquired by Wellington at the deadline—primarily because it seemed likely the Ottawa 67s would call up Olivier Lafreniere permanently. With 16-year-old Anthony Popovich also performing well, and Ottawa unable to make a move to enable Lafreniere to join the team, suddenly the Dukes were loaded with three solid netminders. What appeared to be an awkward set of circumstance then—has turned out incredibly well for the Dukes in March.

Tanguay and the Dukes’ defenders maintained the lead until late in the second period. Then Nic Mucci, sidelined for part of the game on Wednesday, picked up the puck at his own blueline and skated up his wing like a man possessed. There was nothing going to get in his way. All determination he crossed into the Trenton net and around the Hawk defender. Though, he had his linemate Tyler Burnie with him trailing the play—this rush was all Mucci.  It was personal.

Curving around the Hawk defenceman, Mucci set his target on the top corner short side. Fired. The Dukes were up 3-0.

But there was still a period left to be played.

The Hawks came out in the third with abandon. But the Dukes clogged up the centre ice frustrating every Hawk rush. Six minutes into the frame the Dukes and Hawks became ensnared in prolonged scramble for the loose puck in front of the Tanguay. Too long. Trenton scored.

Still the Dukes pushed back. But with four minutes left in the game Trenton’s Brandon Marinelli scored on a long low shot from the point. Hawks were within a goal of tying the game.

For the next four minutes, the Essroc arena was a wild roller coaster ride— a clamour of screams, cheers and clanging maple syrup cans—rising and falling with every save, every breakout pass. Only pausing to catch a breath when the whistle blew to stop the play.

Dukes arms, legs, knees, and torsos blocked shots. Trenton’s netminder finally scampered to the bench with just a few seconds left on the clock. Both teams battled like demons on the wall—neither giving an inch. At last, the buzzer sounded. The game was over. Fifteen hundred hockey fans exhaled at once.

Still in the corner, the battle continued. The upshot was that Matt Adams assessed a misconduct penalty for head contact. He seems to have avoided a costly suspension.

This thrilling series resumes on Monday in Trenton at 7:30 and returns to Wellington on Wednesday. Game times is 7:30.