The Carleton Place Canadians had a chance to build some momentum following a win on Tuesday.
Instead, the Rockland Nationals handed Carleton Place a tough 4-3 loss in Rockland, with the game-winning goal coming in the final minute of regulation.
The Canadians showed their resolve, coming from behind twice to tie the game and give themselves a chance to win in the later stages in the third period. In the end, it was William Collins who made the difference-making play with 0:58 remaining in the game.
Brady McEwan made the start for Carleton Place, and it wasn’t an ideal first period for the young netminder. Rockland scored two goals in the opening 20 minutes on just five shots to open the game.
Tucker Shields opened the scoring 2:50 into the game, finishing off the Giovanni Morneau rush in style. Morneau skated through the Canadians before setting Nick White and Shields on a two-on-one chance in the Canadians zone. White’s pass from the corner found Shields right between the hash-marks and his quick shot beat McEwan on the glove side.
Rockland scored again off the rush for their second goal of the period, with Justin Dauphinais snapping his shot low to McEwan’s glove-side for the goal.
As has been the case for most of the season thus far, the Canadians’ power play sparked the team.
For the second straight game, Kerfalla Toure scored on the power play to get the Canadians on the board in the second period. Toure tracked the shot from the blue-line as the puck deflected off the glass in behind the net. He got the puck and banked it off Jack McGovern for the goal 9:38 into the period.
Bill Gourgon levelled the score before the end of the frame with a goal off the rush for himself. Gourgon powered past the Nationals defender and his quick shot beat McGovern through the goaltender’s five-hole.
Rockland struck first in the third period as Gabriel Filion scored to restore the one-goal advantage 6:18 into the frame.
Ryan Bonfield tied the game up three minutes later with another power play goal for Carleton Place. As with Toure, Bonfield also made it power play markers in back-to-back games with his snap shot from the high slot that beat McGovern through his legs.
Alas, the momentum gained from the comeback efforts wasn’t enough for Carleton Place.
A pinch at centre ice created a two-on-one rush for Dauphinais and Collins. The passing lane from Dauphinais to Collins wasn’t taken away and Dauphinais made no mistake on hitting it, creating the tap-in play for Collins.
It’s a tough test up next for the Canadians as the league-leading Ottawa Jr Senators head to the Carleton Place Arena on Sunday for an afternoon meeting.
