Outshot

Dukes forward Luc Brown goes to the net on Friday night in Wellington.

Dukes muster fewer than 30 shots in losing causes in each of the past two games

It is harder to see the bright spots after this past weekend. The Wellington Dukes dropped two more games—losing 5-3 against Whitby at home on Friday, and 4-1 in Aurora on Saturday. The Dukes are now deeply ensconced in last place in the East division, with just five wins in 14 starts. It is harder to see the good things— but they are there. Only time will tell if this collection of talent and enthusiasm converts into a winning streak.

First, it must be underlined that the Dukes compete in the toughest division in the OJHL, perhaps all of junior hockey. Every team above them in the East is a potential Dudley Hewitt Cup contender.

So when the third place Whitby Fury came to town on Friday, the Dukes knew it would be a tough divisional match up. Defenceman Justin Bean was back on the blueline—as was Brody Morris. The feisty defenceman toiled with the Bulls for the past season, but lately found himself in the stands more often than on the ice. Wellington welcomed him back with enthusiasm.

The Fury hold a measurable size advantage over the Dukes, but in the early stages of the game it was the speedy Wellington squad that controlled the play. However, Whitby struck first. Then came the penalties. Too many men on the ice, followed by a boarding call. With two Dukes in the penalty box, Whitby widened their lead.

Even with three on five, the Dukes managed to keep the puck largely to the outside, fending off the Fury attack for almost a minute—28 more seconds and they would have killed the first penalty.

The tables turned in the second period when Jacob Hetherington’s slapshot from the blueline sailed through a maze of players into the Whitby net. The Dukes tied the score a few moments later when Brandon Kosik finished a slick tic-tac-toe passing play with help from Abbott Girduckis and Joe McKeown on the power play.

Josh Supryka has been quiet in recent games but the young forward is working hard and creating scoring chances.

But the penalties kept coming—erasing the Dukes momentum. Worse, the Fury recaptured the lead on the power play near the end of the second period.

In the third, the Dukes had little left to give— sending just seven shots on the Whitby netminder. Whitby scored two more goals to seal the victory.

Late in the period, the Dukes’ Nick Devito scooped up a misplayed puck and slid it neatly around the Fury netminder. But there was nothing left.

Prospects for Saturday’s road trip to Aurora weren’t much better. After a bit of a slow start, Aurora has been storming through the North Division standings. As of Monday, they had won their last seven games. The Tigers have the fewest goals scored against them in the OJHL, with 25 in 12 games. Contrast that with the worst team—Burlington has been scored upon 100 times in 17 games.

In front of a hometown crowd, the Tigers came out strong—firing 19 shots at the Dukes’ Tyler Welsh. The Dukes managed fewer than half that threat with just eight shots. Yet after the first period, there was still no score. It couldn’t last.

Thirty three seconds into the second period, Aurora scored on the power play. The Tigers’ pressure was unrelenting. Aurora scored again. They now led 2-0.

Then, a break. Sort of. Aurora was penalized for high sticking. Nick Devito finished a play set up by Luc Brown and Justin Bean.

Just as the second period was coming to a close, the Tigers scored, widening their lead to two goals. They added another in the third. The Tigers outshot the Dukes 53-27.

UP NEXT: LINDSAY AND PICKERING
On Friday, the Dukes travel to Lindsay. The last time the Dukes faced the Muskies they skinned the fish 12-0. The Dukes will be looking to reignite a winning streak on the road. Lindsay, however, will be looking to redress a humiliating loss.

On Sunday, the Dukes host Pickering in Wellington. The Panthers edged the Dukes 2-1 in the teams’ previous meeting on September 4.

Pickering was at the top of the North standings early in the season, but have since cooled off, losing four of their last six games.