PHOTO courtesy icelevel.com
Carlos Verde
OTTAWA, ONT. —
The Carleton Place Canadians controlled long stretches of play and received the goaltending they needed from Connor Hughes on Sunday night in Ottawa, where Jason Clarke’s team earned a 3-2 win over the Ottawa Jr. Senators in Game 2 of the Bogart Cup final.
“I thought we were really good,” said Clarke, whose Canadians tied the CCHL final at one game apiece with the victory. “We tightened up on the things we needed to, and got great goaltending — Hughesy was fantastic, definitely a star of the game.”
Ottawa opened the scoring just 47 seconds into the hockey game, when Hubert Delisle polished off a Jaren Burke pass.
Carleton Place drew level five minutes later, as William Cullen beat Ian Andriano from close range.
The Canadians took their first lead of the night just 2:23 into the second period, when Samuel Knoblauch batted home a loose puck on a goalmouth scramble.
Hughes then came up with a stellar glove save to deny Ottawa’s Nicolas Samson on a penalty shot at the 7:27 mark.
A late-second period dagger from Shawn Kennedy off a 2-on-1 gave the Canadians all the insurance they would need entering the third period.
Defenseman Merrick Rippon got the Jr. Sens within a goal just 44 seconds into the final frame, wiring a wrist shot off the post and in to set up a nail-biting finish.
Despite Ottawa generating several high-quality scoring chances in the third period, Hughes and the Canadians gritted their teeth and left the Jim Durrell Complex with a critical road win.
“We’ve got a couple bumps and bruises, so we’ll take Monday off,” said Clarke of his team’s plan ahead of Wednesday’s Game 3 in Carleton Place. “Then Tuesday, we’ll get a good video session going and skate. Other than that, it’s just taking time to rest.”
Ottawa head coach Marty Dagenais lamented his team’s inability to take a two-game series lead on home ice.
“I understand we’re playing a good hockey team, but I think there’s more in the tank,” said Dagenais, whose team edged the shot tally 36-35. “We’re capable of much more — three guys tonight were minus-3, and that can’t happen in a championship final, especially if you’re a 19- or 20-year-old guy.”
VIDEO:
Video | @CPCanadians HC Jason Clarke speaks following his team's 3-2 win tonight.@CCHLTier1 Final now tied 1-1. pic.twitter.com/CqazXv5epY
— Carlos Verde (@Carlos77Verde) April 17, 2017
Video | @OttawaJrSens HC Marty Dagenais following his team's 3-2 defeat against Carleton Place tonight.@CCHLTier1 Final now tied 1-1. pic.twitter.com/5olOTqcHrF
— Carlos Verde (@Carlos77Verde) April 17, 2017
