MULTIMEDIA
|
The Waxers started off the series in less than
spectacular fashion but to their credit never allowed the Rangers to lead
by more than one despite the very un-Waxerlike performance early. In the end it took a Rob
Mazzuca bullet into the top shelf, to give the Waxers the 4-3
win in overtime.
After North York got out to an early 1-0 lead the Waxers stormed back with a
pair of powerplay goals to leap ahead 2-1. At the four minute mark the Waxers
powerplay point men Jimmy Ball
and Lawne Snyder took turns pounding the rubber
at the Ranger cage before Snyder's blast hit the twine to even the score at
1-1. In addition to Ball, Tom Kotsopoulos drew an assist. Six minutes later
Kotsopoulos setup Kevin Tompkins for a second consecutive powerplay goal with
Rob Mazzuca drawing the second assist.
The Rangers would tie the game at 2-2 with a minute and a half left in the
opening period. The Waxers Greg Chambers wouldn't waste any time getting his
first playoff goal when Jason Fraccaro sprung Chambers for a break and he made
no mistake with a nice deke of the beleaguered Ranger netminder less than two
minutes into the second. Midway through the period the Rangers would tie the
score again, this time at 3-3.
The third period saw the Waxers take control of the contest, the shots on
goal (recorded at 9-8 for Markham) were definitely not indicative of the flow
of play as the Waxers had several excellent scoring opportunities while Jeremy
Wenzel stood his ground at the defensive end to keep the Rangers from taking
the lead.
Overtime started and ended almost as suddenly as it began. The Waxers clearly
riding the crest of the wave of momentum that shifted to their side in the
previous period took no prisoners when Mazzuca let a rocket go from just
inside the blue line high over the glove hand of the North York netminder who
had done well in keeping them in the contest with several good saves earlier
on. Snyder and Ball earned assists as the Waxers took game one of the best of
seven game opening round series.
A big plus for the Waxers was the play of their blueline, especially in the
last 21 minutes or so as Ball, Snyder, Brent Pollock (who might have been the
best Waxer on the ice this night), Alex Stoyan (got his usual assortment of
bone crushing hits, a spectacle to those who are new to the Waxers, almost
shamefully we've gotten used to it, but never tired of it), Mike Harding and
Jim Ulcar kept the puck in Markham's possession a lot more often than not.
Game two goes Saturday night (Feb. 12) at North York Centennial at 7:00pm.
After a break on Sunday the two teams have a rematch at Markham on Monday,
February 14 at 8:15pm.
| G A M
E S U M M A R Y |
PERIOD
1
1. North York, Robert (Prodanovic, Frame), 2:40.
2. Markham, Snyder 1 (PP) (Ball, Kotsopoulos), 4:01.
3. Markham, Tompkins 1 (PP) (Kotsopoulos, Mazzuca), 10:35.
4. North York, Harkin (PP) (Scali, Katsuras), 18:21.
PENALTIES:
Wilson NY (cross checking), 3:45; AStoyan Mar
(roughing after whistle), 8:18; Dubeau NY (holding), 9:34;
Prodanovic NY (slashing), 11:34; Harding Mar (roughing), 17:35.
PERIOD
2
5. Markham, Chambers 1 (Fraccaro), 1:41.
6. North York, Katsuras (Branston), 8:39.
PENALTIES:
Tompkins Mar (elbowing), 4:29; Prodanovic NY
(slashing), 9:46; Beaudoin Mar (interference), 14:33.
PERIOD
3
No Scoring.
PENALTIES:
None.
OVERTIME
7. Markham, Mazzuca 1 (Ball, Snyder), 0:30.
PENALTIES:
None.
GOALTENDERS:
Markham: Wenzel. North York: Rondinelli. |
| SHOTS ON
GOAL |
P1 |
P2 |
P3 |
OT |
FINAL |
| NORTH
YORK RANGERS |
13 |
12 |
8 |
0 |
33 |
| MARKHAM
WAXERS |
15 |
10 |
9 |
1 |
35 |
|
