Petes Come Out On Top In Overtime 6-5; Peterborough Leads Series Over London Knights, 2-1
/The record-setting 4,000 fans at the Peterborough Memorial Centre (PMC) were roaring after the Petes scored a walk-off overtime goal to win 6-5 and take a 2-1 series lead in the OHL Championship over the London Knights on Monday night.
The Petes have only lost one playoff home game this postseason. Photo courtesy of Kenneth Andersen and the Peterborough Petes.
London got the start that they wanted with a goal 31 seconds into the game from captain Sean McGurn, tipping in an Isaiah George point shot to make it 1-0. The Knights quickly extended their lead in the final 20 seconds of their powerplay as Ryan Winterton capitalized on a rebound in the slot to make it 2-0. The Petes finally got on the scoreboard as Owen Beck scored on a sharp-angle shot, sneaking by Knights goaltender Zach Bowen with 1:14 left in the period to make it 2-1 into the second.
It was a fireworks show for both teams in the middle frame as shortly after a penalty kill, Peterborough immediately went on the attack. Owen Beck scooped up a loose puck and fed it to J.R. Avon for a breakaway. Avon made no mistake and made a beautiful deke to beat Bowen for the 2-2 tie early in the second. London quickly countered as Gavin White turned it over in his own zone and McGurn capitalized and restored London’s lead, 3-2. Five minutes later, Chase Stillman sniped the top corner from the point for a 3-3 tie. Brennan Othmann continued his playoff dominance with the eighth goal of the playoffs (and 23rd point) for Peterborough’s first lead of the night 4-3. It was short-lived as London’s Brody Crane cashed in a rebound for a 4-4 tie. Just 1:21 later, Jackson Edward scored his first of the season, beating Petes goalie Michael Simpson through the five-hole for a one-goal lead heading into the third.
The final frame saw Stillman rip home a goal from the high slot early in the period to tie things up at 5-5, his second of the game. It was the only goal in the period as the game went into overtime.
Tucker Robertson (left) with head coach Rob Wilson (right) during the post-game press conference. Robertson scored his second consecutive game-winning goal in the series in both of Peterborough’s wins. Photo by Samantha Bianco.
The game was settled quickly as Avery Hayes threw a shot on net that hit Tucker Robertson and was able to slide it through for the game-winning walk-off goal.
“I’m playing with two really good players so they make it easy out there for me out there,” said Robertson. “I get a lot of chances and I’ve been able to bury them lately but I’d say nothing’s changed too much.”
“Big players in big moments always end up in coming up with big goals,” said Rob Wilson, Petes head coach.
@ptbo_canada @Peterborough Petes take home Game Three at the PMC! What a nail biter and we’re one win closer to that @Ontario Hockey League Championship! #GoPetesGo #peterboroughontario #ohl #ohlhockey #playoffhockey ♬ Get Ready - Steve Aoki Vocal Radio Edit - 2 Unlimited
