Feb 01, 2015 | rbeilhartz | 658 views
Solid Start on the Playoff Road!
Our Atom Mustangs started out the playoffs on a snowy Sunday in Wilmot. After battling the Wolverines to a 0-0 tie the week before, the girls were familiar with this foe. From the first puck drop, the Mustangs came out with a purpose, taking the play to the Wolverines (who finished 3rd in the standings in the regular season) early on. In just the second shift of the game, a hard forecheck by Carolina's line led to a loose puck on Morgan's stick in the low slot. Morgan unleashed a hard wrist shot that eluded the Wilmot goalie and got the Mustangs on the board.
The girls kept a good forecheck going throughout the period, and into the second, limiting the Wolverines attempts to brief forays into the Mustang zone. As the second wore on, though, the girls legs seemed to get a bit heavy and they found themselves in their own end much more often.
A long Wilmot possession, caused by a good Wolverine forecheck, ended up with a hard shot in the slot and a rebound the defence couldn't corral...Logan was left at the mercy of the Wilmot player and, despite a valiant diving effort by her, the puck ended up in the back of the Mustang net!
The rest of the game was a seesaw affair, with the Mustangs having to weather a number of dangerous Wolverine forays, and with many of the girls making selfless and strong plays to hold off their opponent. Included in this were three big penalty kills by the Mustangs, including a huge one in the last few minutes of the third.
In the end, the girls held off the surging Wolverines, to earn a valuable point in their "first team to 4 points" playoff series. Next Saturday the girls will defend home ice, as Wilmot visits the Fergus Arena for Game #2 of the series (with Game #3 scheduled for the next day in Wilmot).
Let's keep it rolling, Mustangs, it's PLAYOFF TIME!!