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uhh · 08-17-2019, 05:09 PM

Jerry Mander Propels Outlaws to 5-2 Win over Montreal
Maclean McGuire, The Athletic

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MONTREAL -- Jerry Mander @GCool scored a hat trick as a defenseman, powering the Anaheim Outlaws to a 5-2 road victory over the Montreal Militia on Tuesday night. This was the second game of a three-game series, with Montreal defeating Anaheim 4-3 in a shootout the night before.

Early on, it looked as though Tuesday night's game would be a repeat of Monday's, in which the Militia's Gaspard Boone @Im_A_Boonana scored eight seconds into the match. This time, it was Capp Hatter @patodro opening the scoring for the Militia with his first career SMJHL goal, 2:08 into the first period.

However, despite being outshot from 10-4 in the first period, Anaheim ended the first frame with a 2-1 lead thanks to goals by Nick Connolly @shutdown and Mander.

The Outlaws never looked back from there, outshooting Montreal 18-12 over the last two periods and taking a 4-1 lead into the second intermission. Jukka Jokinen @jtp netted his first goal of the season in the second period to give the Outlaws the two-goal lead.

"It feels good to get that first one, for sure," said Jokinen after the game. "Petro [Gunnar Petrov @Hanson94] found me in the slot with a great pass. With a look that good, I'd better score."

Jokinen's goal was the eventual game-winner, as Montreal's Herry Morris IV @Taxman100 added a garbage time goal with five minutes to go in the third period. By that time, Jerry Mander had already completed his hat trick, and most of the Militia faithful had headed for the exits.

Mander had his fingerprints all over this game from start to finish. In addition to his hat trick, the Outlaws' leading scorer assisted on Jokinen's goal, ending the night with four points.

It's always noteworthy when a defenseman -- even one with Mander's pedigree -- scores a hat trick. The player they call 'The Snake' scored two of his three on the power play. His other goal came off of a face-off win by Kevin Robinson @leftwing42, who won the draw directly into Mander's wheelhouse and let him blast one by Militia goaltender Mitchell Maverick @Legend.

Maverick wasn't actually the game's starting goalie. The Militia started Mike Hunt @"AtlasHunter", but pulled him in the second period after Jokinen's goal. Hunt allowed three goals on seven shots, which allowed Anaheim to end the first period with a lead despite being heavily outshot.

However, it was hard to blame Hunt too much. Connolly's opening goal was the result of a broken play and a defensive breakdown by the Militia. After an Ivan Maximum @thiefofcheese shot missed the net, it bounced off of the boards and out the opposite side of the goal, right to a wide-open Connolly, who shoveled the puck into the open net for his sixth of the season.

"Just a tough one for me tonight," said Hunt after the game. "Credit to Mavs [Mitchell Maverick] for coming into the game and playing well. Every goalie is going to have those kinds of nights sometimes, but that doesn't make it feel better to get yanked."

The loss was only Hunt's third as a starter this season, dropping his record to a still-fantastic 8-3-1. In the opposite crease, Patrick Niederreiter @DieselJ was fantastic for the Outlaws, allowing them to build a four-goal lead in the third period before Morris IV was able to beat him one more time.

These two teams will meet again on Thursday night in Anaheim, playing each other for the third time in four nights.

Three Stars

1: Outlaws

Jerry Mander (hat trick, 4 points)
2: Outlaws

Jukka Jokinen (game-winning goal)
3: Outlaws

Ivan Maximus (2 assists, 13/16 on faceoffs)

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