The Listowel Cyclones opened their Sutherland Cup semi final against London with a tough 4-3 loss in double overtime, after dominating puck possession.
The first looked like it was going to be all Nationals in tonight’s game, as they jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead just over 8 minutes in as Riley MacRae scored on a PP and Brandon Glover sniped at even strength. But Listowel showed good push back, clawing a goal back with just :53 seconds left as Cullen Mercer tipped one home.
In the second, Listowel started a trend of great cycle shifts where they were dominating the give-and-go game down low on London, and Cullen Mercer scored his second just over 15 minute into the frame for the lone goal. Late in the period, London took two penalties that would set up a Cyclones 5 on 3 heading into the 3rd.
Listowel made good early on the 5 on 3, as Jakob Lee sniped home a shot after a perfect pass to give him a no mistake one-timer to take Listowel’s first and only lead of the night at 3-2. But London would answer later in the 3rd on their own PP, as MacRae scored off a bounce in front to slide one home past Max Wright in net.
Overtime came along, and at this point in the contest, it became the David Ovsjannikov show. The massive 6’6”, 229lbs goalie for London was utterly sensational, robbing a number of high quality Listowel attempts as they dominated the play in OT. He was by far the number 1 star after turning away 40 of 43 shots. They couldn’t solve the big man though, and the game cruised into double overtime, where after the teams exchanged power plays, and Listowel continued to force the issue, a bad bounce at centre ice caused a 2-on-1 the other way, and Brandon Glover kept it and sniped it blocker side by a dejected Max Wright to seal the huge home ice win for the Nationals.
Game 2 goes Friday night at 7:30 at the Steve Kerr Memorial, and Game 3 rolls Saturday night at 7:30 back in London. Enjoy the battle.