A 3-1 win over the Valley Division leading Carleton Place Legion Kings has kept the Perth Blue Wings in the hunt for fourth place and a first round playoff matchup with the Stittsville Royals.

 

It may have been a nothing game for the Legion Kings; already assured of first place, but it meant everything to Perth. As of press time the 11-19-3-5 Blue Wings

were one point ahead of the Shawville Pontiacs, who have three games left in the regular season while Perth has two.

 

After five losses in five tries, where they were outscored 22-10, the Blue Wings skated stride for stride with the front running Legion Kings.

 

Following a cautious first period, totalling   a dozen shots on goal, Perth took the lead early in the second just as a hooking penalty to the Legion Kings Pat Barney was about to expire.  Adam Emmerton’s point shot rebounded to Travis Leeson (10) who   steered a backhand past Carleton Place netminder Jeff Stout.

 

Perth goaltender Adam Morden kept it a one goal game heading into the third with a fine save off Scott Wilson who found himself alone in the slot, then, the penalty killing units did the rest, including fending off the Legion Kings while two men short late in the frame.

 

Zach MacMillan gave the locals a 2-0 edge nineteen seconds into the third   when he shoved in another rebound, this after Stout failed to corral a shot from Ben Minkus.

 

The Legion Kings Jesse Lepage made it interesting with a power play goal at 9.20 but Mike Walker gave everyone a reason for relief, two minutes later, when he took a pass from Leeson and in one motion flicked his ninth of the year over Stout’s glove.

 

Only six minor penalties were called during the fast paced and cleanly played game.

 

Carleton Place outshot Perth 24-22

 

Stittsville 4    Perth 2

 

The sixth and final regular season game between the two could have easily gone Perth’s way.  Despite outshooting Stittsville 25-16 over the first two periods the Blue Wings found themselves on the short end of a 4-0 score.    Goals from Steven Peca (2) and Nevin Sullivan (11), late in the third, made it respectable.

 

Brent Boschman, Curtis Sernoskie, Duncan Heywood and Steven Powell tallied for the second place Royals.

 

Each team scored once of the power play while Boschman’s 32^nd of the year came with his club shorthanded.

 

Perth outshot the visitors 38-25.

 

WING TIPS

 

…. Stittsville won five of six, two in overtime. The other ended in a tie. 

…Perth penalty killing   has taken a hit in the second half. Once second overall in the conference, it has dropped to eighth, ninth worst on home ice but a respectable fourth on the road.   

…Curtis Hendy, Rob Dier, Adam Emmerton and Nevin Sullivan will represent the Blue Wings at All Star Day in Carleton Place Saturday. The rookies game is at 10.00 are while the Veterans face-off at 3.00pm. Shawn McGillvray and Riley Kane were also selected but are unable to play.

 

…Perth’s final home game is Sunday afternoon against Metcalfe at 1.30. They may not get that make up game with the Ottawa Junior Canadians due to the Canadians inability to obtain ice time. It also denies Perth  the opportunity for an important two points.

 

…Sunday’s tilt with Metcalfe starts at 1.30 pm.

A three goal outburst from Shawn McGillvray sparked the Perth Blue Wings (10-18-3-5) to a 7-4 triumph over the visiting Shawville Pontiacs Saturday night at the Community Centre, moving the Blue Wings two points ahead of the Pontiacs in the battle for fourth in the Valley Division of the EOJBHL

 

In Coach Jeff Snow’s words “ we’re trying to control our own destiny “ 

Destiny   may not be in their hands. Shawville has five games left in their regular season, two each with Renfrew and Arnprior and one with Carleton Place. Perth has four to go, three at home against Stittsville, Carleton Place and Metcalfe, and a road trip to Ottawa to visit the Canadians. Based on strength of schedule, Shawville has the inside track.  Based on the Pontiacs   recent play, one win in their past ten games, the Blue Wings are still in the running

 

After a sloppy first period, where each team scored twice, Shawville jumped ahead 3-2 1.54 into the second when Shane Powell swept home a bounce off the endboards.  That turned out to be the last time the Pontiacs held an edge . Eric Ringer (2) tied it at 7.37 on a perfectly placed blast from the blueline with Shawville’s Mattieu Girard  serving an elbowing penalty.

 

Zach McMillan made 4-3 at 9.05 with his second of the game, and, 12th of the year, shoving a rebound between the legs of Pontiacs goaltender J.R Thibert after Nevin Sullivan made a nice effort to keep the puck inside the blueline. 

While facing just 22 shots throughout, Perth netminder Rob Dier made two superb saves in the last ten seconds of the period, sticking out a leg to turn aside Powell and then diving across the crease to rob Tyson Allard, who, appeared to have nothing but net to shoot at.

 

 It was all Perth in the third. Shawville mustered a paltry four shots while the Blue Wings bombarded Sauve with 19.

 

McGillvray potted his second when he cut into the slot and picked the far corner at 4.50 then Jeff Kipping (7) made it 5-3, three minutes later, when he pounced on the rebound of MacMillan’s shot.

 

Shawville’s Harris Tripp cut it to 6-4 at 11.04 but McGillvray (3,4,5) answered with his third and the Blue Wings third power play marker at 14.26 when his backhand from in close slipped under Sauve.

 

McGillvray   and MacMillan scored for Perth in the opening twenty minutes while Allard and Powell replied for Shawville.

 

In the first game of  must not lose weekend, the Blue Wings might have skated away with an important two points if not a lack of finish and the goaltending of the Timberwolves Mitch Racicot.  As it was, the 2-2 stalemates and the point gained, was better than none.

 

Drew Anderson scored twice for the tailend Timberwolves while Travis Leeson (9) and Ben Minkus with his team leading 14^th replied for Perth.

 

Adam Morden faced 36 shots while Racicot had 35 fired his way.

 

WING TIPS

 

…MacMillan’s second (he added three assists) spelled the end of Thibert’s evening. He was replaced by P.L.Sauve, who allowed all three third period goals.

 

…Nevin Sullivan only had two helpers but was the game’s first star. McGillvray and McMillan would have to be second and third.

 

…Ryan Caron, Chris Wardlaw and Nick Ervin   missed the weekend due to injury. All hope to be back for the post season

 

…If it comes down to a tiebreaker, total wins will be the deciding factor. Perth and Shawville split the season series. The Wings and Renfrew each won twice and tied twice

 

…Crime doesn’t pay! Renfrew, Gatineau, Morrisburg and Gananoque have accumulated the most penalty minutes in their respective divisions and are either in, or close to, last place.

 

…In what could be a statement game, and, playoff preview, Perth hosts Stittsville Friday night at 7.45 pm. Carleton Place comes to the Community Centre Saturday night for a 7.30 pm faceoff.