Game 10

Detroit Falcons - 5
vs.
Halifax Raiders - 4


Tonight we have a Eastern Conference showdown between the Detroit Falcons and the Halifax Raiders. Both teams have split their first two games. The Detroit Falcons are entering this game following an impressive victory over the Montreal Impact. The Falcons shook off the rust it seems, following the teams disappointing loss to the Colorado Mammoths in their opener.
The Halifax Raiders split a home & home series with the St. Louis Scarecrows. The Raiders fought back from a large deficit with a four goal third period, to win their home opener and split the series with the Scarecrows.

The two teams have had some great matchups over the past few seasons and have made a habit of running into each other in the post-season. This season could end up producing another great playoff series between the two teams, with a lot of SMJHL experts predicting they will meet in the conference finals.


It seemed as both teams used the first period as a feeling out process. Neither team was able to find the net but both Dick Chocolate of the Raiders and Sivy McSieve of the Detroit Falcons looked strong. The Raiders controlled the pace of the play, outshooting the Falcons 9-4. Halifax was able to kill off a hooking penalty taken by Sergei Fedorin and the Falcons were able to kill a Clive Stonehands tripping minor. Blake Battle took a penalty with just 13 seconds remaining in the period, after the rookie defenseman smashed Rising Hippo face-first into the boards.


Richard C. Hocolate turns aside a shot from Falcons defenseman Justin Novastar

Battle's penalty would end up being a costly one. Alex Berkis scored his first goal of the season just moments after Battle's penalty expired. Berkis took a pass from Maverick Mitchell and fired it over Hocolate's shoulder to score his first goal of the season. The Raiders continued to find themselves in penalty trouble. Halifax managed to kill off an ill-advised elbowing penalty taken by Reinis Aumeisters, but they weren't as fortunate after William Marner took a penalty just 9 seconds later. Halifax native Justin Novastar scored in the waning seconds of the powerplay to put the Falcons up 2-0 near the midway point of the second period. Marner will be skating laps in practice following another stick penalty just 25 seconds later. The Falcons dominated the second period out-shooting the Raiders 17-5.


Alex Berkis fights for a loose puck

The third period was action packed and saw the floodgates open as far as scoring went. Montel Vontavious Porter intercepted a pass just seconds into the final frame and found Leif De Bruin behind the Falcons defense, De Bruin made an excellent move and slid the puck past McSieve to cut the Detroit lead in half. Less then a minute later, Porter intercepted another pass and found Reinis Aumeisters all alone in front of McSieve, Aumeisters made no mistakes and beat the Falcons goaltender to tie the game at 2. Detroit would answer back quickly. Maximus Sarone put the Falcons back on top just 3 minutes later, Sarone would add a second goal just a minute after that and Detroit had taken the air out of the Scotiabank Centre. Hans Moleman assisted on both of Sarone's goals. Prince Daniel James took a penalty and William Marner took advantage on the powerplay to bring the Raiders back within a goal. Alexander Odegaard continued the scoring explosion to once again give the Falcons a two goal lead. Things settled down for a while until Felix Herzog scored his first goal of the season, on the powerplay, with just under 3 minutes to play. Halifax was unable to continue the offensive pressure, partly because of a late penalty taken by forward Mike Ross. The Falcons would hold on to take a 5-4 victory, despite a 4 goal third period from the Raiders.


Maximus Sarone and Hans Moleman celebrate Sarone's second goal f the game



Link to the game: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/1072023...L/SMJHL-10.html