The Riders Rise

Fernie Ghostriders played the first two games of the series in Nelson. Losing both games, they came home hoping a familiar venue, the Memorial Ice Arena, would create a change in results.

The first game Monday night was a nail biter. Trading goals, the regulation periods ended in a two two tie. Going into sudden death overtime, the Ghostriders put one in and the roof lifted off the arena. Hope it’s covered by the grant to upgrade for the coming Winter Games. Final score three to two Ghostriders.

The second game Tuesday night started with a bang. Fifty-nine seconds in the Ghostriders scored their first goal. When play resumed, at one minute, the game stood one zip Ghostriders. Twenty four seconds later the Ghostriders scored again. Less than a minute and a half and it stood at two zip Ghostriders.

Time for defense.

Nope. At 14:53, four minutes after the second goal, Scott Cisco flipped one in from the side. The Rider’s third goal in a short five and a half minutes. Three zip Ghostriders.

The rest of the game was catch-up on the part of the Nelson Leafs and they never quite put it in gear. The hockey remained clean, but physical. The checks and blocks resounded off the boards. The refs kept a firm hand on the action, restraining players and in once case, the head ref actually body checked a Nelson player heading into an altercation.

The play moved evenly back and forth across the ice with no team seeming to have an advantage in possession or shots on goal. Both teams failed to score on power plays showing the strength of both team’s defense. It was not a defensive game, it was an offensive game that sought to score again. The puck was fought over on every inch of ice. Behind the nets, the players blocked, checked and scrambled to gain the puck.

Score at the end of the second period, still three zip Ghostriders.

In looking back at the game, the Ghostriders seemed more disciplined. As the puck moved over the blue line, they set up on the corners and moved in with power passing and creating greater pressure on the Leafs. As they became blocked, they had an out to the corners. And could re-group creating another opportunity to shoot on goal.

In contrast, the Leafs seemed to move in with the puck. If they missed their shot at goal, there was no one back to drop the puck to and they often lost possession.

With only 8:01 left in the third period, the Leafs finally scored. With 1:12 left, the Leaf’s coach pulled their goalie to add one more to the offensive pressure at the Riders end of the ice. With twenty seconds left, the Riders picked up a missed pass, skated to the empty goal and scored.

Four one Ghostriders.

The goalie came back in for the last few seconds.

Final score remained at four one Ghostriders.

Coming home did the Riders well. They left Wednesday for the fifth game in Nelson tied two two for the series.