Late lapse costs Mite #2 a standings point

Originally published on Saturday, January 28, 2012 at 9:39pm

2-2 tie with Bulldogs extends unbeaten streak, keeps Jaguars atop standings

It was the only real lapse Mite #2 had in the game.
It lasted less than 30 seconds.
But it was long enough for McFetridge Bulldogs #1 to take advantage of it.
And take advantage they did, scoring two goals in just :21 during the final 1:08 of the game to salvage a 2-2 tie against the Jaguars on Inwood Ice Saturday evening, Jan. 28.
Despite the late lapse that allowed the Bulldogs to gain a point in the standings, the Jaguars – on the strength of the point they did earn Saturday -- still sat atop the White Tier of the Silver B Level of the Mite Division in the Northern Illinois Hockey League at the end of play on Saturday. The Jaguars had 15 points, while the Bulldogs sat one point behind, tied at 14 with the Chicago Jets, who recorded a 2-1 win Saturday morning over the Chicago Bruins.
Saturday’s tie, the first for the Jaguars on the season, stretched Mite #2’s unbeaten streak in NIHL play to seven games.
For much of the game, however, it appeared it would be a full-fledged winning streak that would remain intact for the Jaguars, who have not lost a game in NIHL play since dropping a 3-1 decision to the Bruins on Dec. 4, 2011.
The Jaguars put early pressure on the visiting Bulldogs Saturday night, peppering Bulldogs goaltender Brendan Summerhill with 7 shots on net in the opening period, while allowing the Bulldogs to challenge Jaguar goalie Luke Brzezinski with just 2 shots in the stanza. Brzezinski ended the night with 13 saves, while Summerhill managed to stop 15 Jaguar shots.
Despite the Jaguars’ early offensive pressure, the first period ended in a 0-0 tie, and it was not until just 8:48 remained in the second period that the Jaguars managed to get on the scoreboard. On a breakaway, Jarrett Goodwin shot from the wing and placed the puck just under the crossbar to tally the period’s lone goal. Lukas Bomba, who had dug the puck out from along the boards in the defensive end and popped it free to Goodwin received credit for the assist.
The Jaguars enjoyed the tenuous one-goal lead for the remainder of the second period and through the first 8:00 of the third, until Trevor Hudak scored what appeared at the time to be the game-clincher,  an unassisted Power Play goal with 3:00 to play in the game, to make the score 2-0.
The Bulldogs, led by a seemingly re-energized Nicholas Mathurin, were not ready to give up their position in what now appears will be a three-way competition for the regular season White Tier championship among the Jaguars, Bulldogs and Jets.
Mathurin found the net for the Bulldogs with 1:08 to play, converting an assist from Ansen King, to cut the Jaguar lead to 2-1.
With the lead cut in half, Bulldog Coach Greg Loose pulled the goaltender off the ice in favor of a sixth skater. That empty net at the far end of the rink would prove, as Jaguar Coach Bob Ambroffi termed it after the game, to be the Jaguars’ “kryptonite,” as they became overly interested in trying to shoot the puck into the empty net and, in the process, let down a bit defensively.
That was the lapse that Mathurin and the Bulldogs needed. Just :21 seconds after the first goal of the game for McFetridge, Mathurin scored again, this time on an assist from John Heffernan to knot the score at 2.
Due to a fluke in scheduling the tier-leading Jaguars are now idle until Feb. 12, when they renew their battle for the title against the Chicago Jets during a 10:10 a.m. game at Johnny’s Icehouse West. The Jaguars will then conclude the regular season with a Feb. 15 game against the Sabres.
The Bulldogs, who have played one less regular season game than the Jaguars, and the Jets, who have played just 9 games compared to the Jaguars’ 12, by comparison, have busy schedules over the next two weeks, including games on Sunday, Jan. 29. The Jets will again battle the Bruins at 5:40 p.m., while the Bulldogs will visit the Maniax.
The Bulldogs will finish the regular season with games against the Jets, on Feb. 4, and the Bruins, on Feb. 10.
In addition to visiting the Bulldogs on Feb. 4, the Jets also have games left against the Sabres and the Maniax, on Feb. 5 and 11, respectively, before concluding their regular season by hosting the Jaguars on Feb. 12.