Chatham Maroons forward Nolan Gardiner. November 24, 2018. (Photo by Matt Weverink)Chatham Maroons forward Nolan Gardiner. November 24, 2018. (Photo by Matt Weverink)
Chatham

Maroons crush Stars 3-2 in overtime

Nolan Gardiner scored two goals, including the winner, in the Chatham Maroons' 3-2 overtime win over the St. Thomas Stars Sunday at Memorial Arena.

The Maroons are in the third playoff seed in the GOJHL Western Conference with 61 points and can finish no worse than third with two games left in the regular season. St. Thomas, which clinched the last playoff berth, is currently tied with Strathroy for seventh place with 37 points.

Cal Horvat scored at 8:45 of the first period for a 1-0 St. Thomas lead. The Stars led Chatham in shots 10-8 in the segment.

Dane Johnstone evened the game up for the Maroons with a power-play goal at 9:45 of the middle period to tie the game at a goal apiece. The shot-on-goal count after 40 minutes of play was 18-17 in favour of Chatham.

The Stars regained the lead in the middle of the third period when Jake Rendall found the net, but the Maroons forced overtime with Gardiner's power-play goal. Gardiner struck again in the extra frame at exactly four minutes in.

Tristan Lewis stopped 27 shots out of the 29 he faced in goal for Chatham. Jesse Hodgson had 36 saves in net for St. Thomas.

The Stars next host the Leamington Flyers in a Family Day matinee on Monday. The Maroons next visit the Flyers on Thursday night before ending the regular season at home next Sunday against the St. Marys Lincolns. Both of those games will be broadcast live on CFCO Country 92.9FM/AM 630.

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