Golden Knights able to dominate Winchester 5-1 with a short bench
Despite a short bench, the Ottawa West Golden Knights were able to win their third straight game – beating Winchester 5-1. Ottawa West outshot Winchester 54-28 in that game.
Going into this game Mackinnon, Lecours and Brown were out with injuries. Jamer was still suspended for a couple more games until while Gagnon got a two-game suspension for roughing on Monday.
Stef Mellios and Connor Weatherhead who are both playing with the Nepean Raiders Midget AA team were called up to play tonight.
“I thought Weatherhead played well and kept it simple. He had a scoring opportunity but was imitated and he passed instead of shooting,” explained Sundin on the 17 year olds Jr. Hockey debut. “He played well defensively and did his job”.
“Mellios played a strong game, kept it simple. When you only allowed one goal on defense, you’re playing well,” Said Sundin of Mellios game.
Winchester started off the game early with a few good opportunities but the Golden Knights were able to lock it down defensively.
The Golden Knights were able to capitalize on their first goal from Tristian Taillefer off a faceoff win by Tyren Boots to make it 1-0 at 9:58 left in the 1st period. Five minute later, Taillefer would score his second of the game to make 2-0 off the bat.
“He is playing good hockey. I’ve talked to him of stepping up his game and he really has. He’s playing more physical and shoots the puck more,” Said Sundin on Taillefer’s performance over the last few games.
Golden Knights would take their first penalty of the game at 16:40 in the first period and Winchester were able to capitalize from Fred Lemay on a rebound to cut the deficit to one. It would be the only goal that Golden Knighs allowed as Chris Cuglitta would not allow a goal throughout the rest of the game.
“He’s in the zone right now. He’s only allowed one 5 on 5 goal out of the four goals. The rest of the goals were power play goals and they are good plays by the opposition. You can’t fault him on any of the goals,” noted Sundin on Cuglitta’s performance in his last three games.
Ottawa West would get off to a terrific start in the 2nd period scoring 31 seconds into the frame to regain the two-goal lead from Alex Wall. Five minutes later Luke Mulvihill would add his 36th goal of the year off a 2 on 1 by Alex Wall to make it 4-1, Ottawa West.
“Wall is shooting the puck. He’s in the scoring areas and were shooting the puck instead of passing it. I thought in the past, the games that we were losing we were looking for the pretty goals instead of shooting the puck,” mentioned Sundin on the teams recent play.
In the 3rd period, the Golden Knights third and fourth line dominating the play cycling the puck. Fleming, Young, and Goodfellow had some chances to get a goal throughout the game but it didn’t go their away. They played an excellent game tonight.
“The guys that were playing on the 3rd or 4th line have to step up and they did. Taillefer had a fabulous game, he scored 3 goals for us. Bidin had a good effort, Wall had a good game. I thought our defense again were strong. We only allowed the one power play goal and Cugliitta were very steady and played very well in net,” chuckled Steve Sundin on the Ottawa depth and the team playing together as a team.
Taillefer was able to score the 5th and final goal off a great pass from Bidin on the left side for his first career Hat Trick in his career to make it 5-1.
“It was tough at first to adjust but I found after a while I got to know the boys and find some chemistry. It just clicked tonight and we were on fire,” said Taillefer when asked about chemistry on this team.
Golden Knights are back in action tonight against Perth in their final game of the season. Steve Sundin mentioned a gameplan going to tomorrow against a red hot Perth Blue Wings.
“We just have to get a 3rd guy high. Make sure we don’t get caught on 2 on 1’s and getting the puck out when we get a chance. The defense has to go glass and out when we have nothing. We just have to worry about our game. Alexandria did win their game. They got two games left and we got one. Whitewater is despite for a win and will face them tomorrow night and then Arnprior on Sunday. Perth has locked up third place so their playing for nothing but they play well against us,” Said Sundin on matchup against Perth.
With a Golden Knights win and an Alexandria loss tomorrow, they will move to third place and hope for results when Alexandria takes on Arnprior on Sunday. If Golden Knights lose, they will have home ice advantage for Game one of their three game wild card series against Embrun.
By: Mason Detre
