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jason97 · 05-01-2019, 05:42 PM

Lethbridge Lions vs Colorado Raptors Raptors

Welcome to Game 71 of the SMJHL season, where we have the Lethbridge Lions taking on the Colorado Raptors. These two sides have already faced each other twice earlier on in the season, the first being a 3-2 victory by the Raptors on opening day and the second game was taken by the Lethbridge Lions by a score of 4-2. Coming into the game, the Lethbridge Lions have a record of 7-7 and the Colorado Raptors are 3-8-2. Can the Raptors snap their three game losing streak or can the Lions get to over .500? Stay tuned for some SMJHL action.

The Starting Lineups:

Cant Eykhil - Eva Lykke Aparjode - Jules L'Eclair Lions

Donny McMasters - Thomas Bathory

Harry Carpet

Knute Knurtsson - Julio Tokolosh - Nick Brain Raptors

Anastasia O'Koivu - Eric Vanderberg

Yuri Ushakov

First Period

Just two seconds into the game, we have a penalty as Nick Brain is sent to the box after a big hit to Donny McMasters. Lethbridge are unable to get anything going as the Raptors were able to dump the puck multiple times. It looks as thought the Lions didn't appreciate the roughing penalty to open up the game as Tah Puhcheese is sent off 32 seconds after the end of the Brain penalty for cross-checking. It looks as thought we are in for a feisty game right off the start. A Nick Brain shot off the post is as close as the Raptors get to opening up the scoring on the power play. Joln DuBolk is the next victim of the penalty box as he gets called for hooking on Jules Watt at the 7 minute mark. However, the Raptors cannot capitalize with the extra man. A Nick Novak interception in the Lions offensive zone sees the puck back on his stick after a big rebound off a Teddy Nuggets snap shot and Novak makes no mistake as he slides it past the outstretched Harry Carpet. The Lions penalty kill is once again out there as Cant Euykhil is sent to the box for hooking Akashi SixNine, but stay strong and keep the deficit to one goal. As the period is about to come to a close, the Lions receive their fourth penalty of the period and it goes to Dickens Makeout-King for a high stick. As the Raptors send out their first unit, it only takes them 10 seconds to find the back of the net. A big face-off win by Knute Knurtsson gives Tokolosh the chance to set Nick Brain up for a one-timer as he blasts it over Carpet's shoulder to make it 2-0 Colorado. That's not the way the Lions wanted to end the first.

Goal Recap: Goal

Colorado Raptors , Nick Novak 1 (Teddy Nuggets 2) at 12:46

Raptors

Colorado Raptors , Nick Brain 4 (Julio Tokolosh 4, Knute Knurtsson 5) at 19:37 (PP)

Second Period

Whatever was said in the locker room seems to have worked for the Lions. Austin Roenick and Monkey D. Luffy are able to work a great play in the Raptors offensive zone and find an unmarked Donny McMasters in the high slot who snaps it through a screen of players in front off the net and beats Ushakov blocker side. The goal 20 seconds in cuts the lead to half. A holding penalty to Ja'Aj Coitus-Wagg gives the Lions a chance to tie the game up on the power play, but Yuri Ushakov stands strong and keeps his side ahead. After some great action by both teams, Jay Boom'Boom is sent to the box for interference. After a great cycling play, the Raptors second power play unit are able to capitalize as Vanderberg spots Smonk on the left circle who dishes a sweet saucer pass to Jake Peralta in the slot and he tucks it under Carpet's glove to give the Raptors a 3-1 lead. And it looks like the Lions have had enough of Harry Carpet and replace him with Patrice Nadeau for the remainder of the game. The Raptors are looking to extend their lead and it's their first line who moves the puck into the Lions zone and off a missed shot by Knute Knurtsson, Nick Brain takes a wrist shot from the point that it tipped in front by Knurtsson, which squeaks its way through Nadeau's pads and gives the Raptors a 4-1 lead. From bad to worse for the Lions as Donny McMasters and Sami Karppa are given penalties for hooking and that's 7 penalties for the Lions in 2 periods, they need to be more disciplined if they want to come back in this game. The Lions are able to kill the two penalties thanks to a few big saves from Nadeau. With just a couple of seconds left in the second period, it is the Colorado Raptors back on the attack after a missed shot by Juulius Smonk, Calogero Crudelli is able to find the loses puck and slot it home to extend Raptors lead to 5-1.

Goal Recap: Goal

Lethbridge Lions , Donny McMasters 3 (Monkey D. Luffy 4, Austin Roenick 5) at 0:20

Raptors

Colorado Raptors , Jake Peralta 1 (Juulius Smonk 4, Eric Vanderberg 6) at 7:54 (PP)

Raptors

Colorado Raptors , Knute Knurtsson 4 (Nick Brain 7, Julio Tokolosh 5) at 11:39

Raptors

Colorado Raptors , Calogero Crudelli 4 (Juulius Smonk 5, Jake Peralta 7) at 19:52

Third Period

As the third period starts, it looks like its going to be a big hill to climb for the Lions in this one. An early penalty to Calogero Crudelli for hooking gives the Lions a chance to get a second goal early but they are unable to capitalize on their opportunity. However, just 6 minutes into the third, Monkey D. Luffy retrieves the puck off a failed deke by Mister McCarty and throws it on net, which finds a gap over the shoulder of Yuri Ushakov and cuts the deficit to 3 goals. Jay Boom'Boom is sent back to the box for high sticking but a quick kill by the Lions sees the momentum shift in the Lions favor. With just a little bit over five minutes remaining in the game, Arsene Arsenich receives a drop pass from Gordon Bombay on the rush and snaps in between the defenseman's legs and beats Ushakov to make it 5-3. As the Lions continue to throw all they have at the Raptors, the Raptors locked up on defense, were able to contain the pressure and close out the game.

Goal Recap: Goal

Lethbridge Lions , Monkey D. Luffy 4 (Mister McCarty 1, Dinars Briedis 4) at 6:14

Lions

Lethbridge Lions , Arsene Arsenich 4 (Gordon Bombay 3) at 14:54

Final Score:

3 - 5

Three Stars
1 - Knute Knurtsson Raptors

(1 goal, 1 assist, 2 points, +1, 3 shots, 2 hits, FO: 9/26, TOI: 20:18)
2 - Nick Brain Raptors

(1 goal, 1 assist, 2 points, +1, 5 shots, 5 hits, PIM: 2, TOI: 19:28)
3 - Julio Tokolosh Raptors

(0 goals, 2 assists, 2 points, +2, 2 hits, TOI: 20:26)

Game Facts:

Lions

PP: 0/3 (0%) | PK: 6/8 (75%) | FOW: 44 | Hits: 18 | Blocked Shots: 6 | PIMs: 16

Raptors

PP: 2/8 (25%) | PK: 3/3 (100%) | FOW: 31 | Hits: 26 | Blocked Shots: 6 | PIMs: 6

RunnerBert11 · 05-03-2019, 12:41 PM

Comment #1
A Flash in the Pan
After a tough 1st period the Lethbridge Lion's seemed to have regained their composure in the locker room during the 1st intermission and took the ice in the 2nd period with a different poise. They took the opening draw and quickly moved the puck into the Colorado zone. After some clean passing Luffy found L'Eclair on the goal line for a clean look from a sharp angle, but Yuri gobbled up the shot without a rebound and covered for the whistle. Roenick took the offensive zone face off after Luffy was ejected by the ref. Roenick won the draw, to Luffy. Luffy quickly found Roenick slipping behind the net, Roenick quickly returned the puck to Luffy who found McMaster cutting hard down the ice to the net. After a beat of a saucer pass, McMaster was able to find the topshelf, blocker-side to cut the lead to one and give this Lethbridge home crowd some new life. Just as things we're starting to look up for the Lions and the momentum was shifting Boom'Boom was called for an interference minor. A mere 20 seconds after planting himself in the sin bin the Raptors drew blood for the third time of the night and the Lethbridge Lion's coaching staff decided to pull Carpet and see what Nadeau could offer in the crease. Pulling the goalie was basically the metaphoric drain on this game and everything from this point on went down the drain for the Lions. Giving up another 2 goals which they were able to match down the stretch to end the night with a 3-5 loss to Colorado.

#2
Twinkle Twinkle
Let's take a closer look at our 2nd star for the night, Nick Brain of the Colorado Raptors. After a quick glance at the stat sheet you could swear this force of a hockey player was a defenseman the way he is laying down hits on the ice. He recorded 5 hits tonight and was a main factor as to why the Raptors came ahead tonight. His physical dominance was felt by the Lions and they we're slow to get to pucks and soft on the boards, I'd say mainly to Brain's punishing play style. As if the physical presence wasn't enough, Nick also contributed with a goal and assist and rounded out the evening with a +1 rating. Upon further examination of this performance I am having a difficult time understanding how the forces that be didn't think Nick shined bright enough to deserve the 1st star of the night. Well, there's always tomorrow!

#3
The Up 'n' Comin'
As the night did not turn out the way the Lion's would have hoped let's take a minute to focus on a bright spot in the Lion's future in their rookie and up and coming center Gordon Bombay. The season hasn't been stellar thus far for Gordon and some might even argue that it's been a bit underwhelming, but is that actually the case. Considering his time in the league so far and his age Gordon seems to be contributing and a decent rate when compared to other centers in his draft-class. Tonight for instance, Gordon was able to not only help out the Lion's tremendously in the face off circle, with a face off percentage of .588, not too bad for a youngster. He also has been on point in the passing department, being able to see the ice and keep plays alive and extended in the offensive zone for Lethbridge. Tonight the two of those seemed to overlap for Bombay when a face off win in the offensive zone to Arsene Arsenich immediately resulted in a goal for the right winger and Gordon's first career assist and second career point. If Lethbridge rookie's can keep on improving at the rate they have been so far the future is looking bright for this pride!

Bruins10 · 05-13-2019, 01:29 PM

COLORADO EFFICIENCY
The Colorado Raptors made sure to take quality shots throughout the whole game. They scored 5 goals against the Lions and only took 20 shots in the match, scoring on a total of 25% of their shots. That is something the Lions would want to improve on, making sure that the shots the opponents are taking would be coming from non-dangerous zones. Also, speaking of efficient, the Colorado Raptors made sure that this game would be theirs from the beginning till the end. They lead throughout the whole game, it was only tied from puck drop to 12:46 seconds into the first period. After that, the Raptors took the lead and kept it. The Lions did make it interesting, by scoring a goal to bring it within 1. The Raptors then scored 3 straight and once it was 5-1, the game was too far away from Lethbridge.

UNSPORTSMANLIKE EH?
You would thinka team from Canada would be as respectful as the prejudice of the country but you would be wrong. Lethbridge gave up a total of 8 pentalties in the game, and even half of them being Hooking. Those are lazy penalties being taken, when you can not skate hard enough to ctach up to someone so you need to slow them down using your stick. The Raptors did only score on 2 of them, which were the 2nd and the 3rd goals of the game for them. But you limit your penalties and really take those goals away, you have a close 1 goal game and that can be anyones to take. More discipline from Lethbridge could go a long way.

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