The Rattlers struck first when they capitalized on a turnover inside the Waxer blueline to score a shorthanded breakaway goal. Later netminder Dan Leclair avenged that goal by turning aside a second clear cut breakaway and made several key stops during the course of the night.

A pair of powerplay goals by the Rattlers early in the second period put the Waxers further behind at 3-0. Moments after the third Thornhill goal, Mike Stoyan saved a goal by sliding into the crease area in the nick of time to give a big helping hand to Leclair. In Stoyan's first game back, the lone Waxer to return to active duty from the list of wounded he played extremely well and his presence was noticeable.

With over seven minutes remaining the Waxers finally lit up the scoreboard, Kevin Tompkins fed Kevin Cribari for his 15th goal of the year to cut the deficit to 3-1.

The third period saw the Waxers somehow gain a second wind and they returned to pressing the action in the offensive zone with aggressive forechecking. Tompkins fed Jesse Boucher with a clear out pass, Boucher took the puck over the red line, through the Rattler defense and cut across left to right and with the Rattler netminder flailing away at nothing but air as a result of the deke, Boucher dunked the puck home and it was 3-2. The goal was Jesse's 30th of the year to lead all Waxers in that department. Three minutes later the Rattlers restored the two goal advantage, on a breakaway.

It would have been very easy for the Waxers to fold their tents, however, they just played with even more intensity. Just 18 seconds later Adam Doucette fired home a rebound from Mark Menonte's shot to cut the score to 4-3. Less than two minutes later Tompkins scored, on a powerplay to tie the game at 4-4. It would take just 58 seconds for the Waxers take their first lead of the night, Adam Doucette fed Derek Doucette at the point who sent the feed rocketing into the Rattler cage with a booming slapshot. The goal was Derek's second in as many nights and in addition to his offensive output he played as sound a defensive game as we've seen from him since donning the blue and white. The Rattlers salvaged a point from the night with a goal late in the period to tie the game at 5-5. Overtime settled nothing.

The contest concluded the Waxers pre-Christmas schedule and was important, of the walking wounded, Mike Stoyan was able to return, however Paul Robinson and Andy Schofield also were out of the lineup as they were attending family Christmas functions.

Despite the fact that this was the first Waxer point in their last five games, their play has remained at a high level (with the exception of last Friday and Saturday evening's nightmare), a credit to the players who have remained focus despite the injury woes that have taken a significant amount of talent out of the lineup. The tie was also the first of the year for the Waxers, they had previously won all three previous overtime encounters to date.

Now the Waxers all pause for Christmas and on behalf of the entire Waxer ownership group, management and coaching staff, other off-ice personnel and of course the players, we wish to all a safe and happy holidays.

G A M E   S T A T I S T I C S

No.

 G

A

PTS

PIM

PPG

SHG

GWG

TOTALS