Game 5, Western Conference Championship Series
(2) Chatham Maroons 1
(1) St. Marys Lincolns 6
(CHA leads best-of-7 series 3-2)
Voortman’s 5-point effort helps Lincolns avoid elimination
Owen Voortman had 5 points and Owen Kalp scored the game winner against his former team as the Lincolns won their second game of the series In front of a crowd of 1269 at the Pyramid Recreation Centre. (game highlights)
The Lincolns (10-7) erased a 1-0 deficit with six unanswered goals for their second win of the series, defeating the Maroons (11-6) for the first time since Game 1, and forcing a sixth game of the series.
Colby Booth-Housego (W, 7-2) made 25 saves for the Lincolns. Maroons netminder Gannon Hunter (L, 11-6) stopped 24 of 30 shots faced.
After a scoreless first period, the Maroons opened the scoring on Brody Gillis‘ 6th goal of the playoffs at 5:13 of the second. The Lincolns tied the game nine minutes later when Voortman snapped his 9-game goal drought with his 6th goal of the playoffs on the power play. Luca Spagnolo assisted on the goal for his first point since Game 1.
Kalp — who played the previous two seasons for the Maroons — scored the go-ahead goal for the Lincolns at 5:39 of the third for his first career playoff game winning goal. Just 27 seconds later, Spagnolo scored to make it 3-1. Spagnolo scored his second less than 3 minutes later to put the Lincolns up three. Lincoln Moore scored his 6th of the playoffs and Ryan Hodkinson scored his team-leading 10th to finish off a five-goal third period for St. Marys.
VIDEO: Kalp scores winner, Spagnolo adds 2 in Lincolns’ big win
Lincolns head coach Jeff Bradley had high praise for his team’s response after losing 3 straight and facing elimination. “I was very impressed with the desperation and resilience our players showed tonight. We made scoring the first goal a priority, and even though we didn’t get it, our players continued to stick to the game plan and believe. We need to continue to play with that desperation (in Game 6) Sunday night.”
The Lincolns top line of Voortman, Spagnolo and Jaden Lee — which had a combined 1 goal and 2 points in the first 4 games of the series — exploded for 11 points to lead St. Marys. In addition to Voortman’s career-high 5 points (1G, 4A), Spagnolo scored twice and added an assist, and Lee had 3 assists.
Bradley was pleased but not surprised the the trio’s performance. “Luca, Owen and Jaden are third-year Lincolns that have made their names in this league by playing the right way. Even though they help our team in many ways, production is important to them and us for our team’s success. To see them have such a big night was great, they deserve it.”
Maroons GM/head coach Richard Santos thought every element of his team’s game needs to improve from the Game 5 effort. “Everyone has to do a better job and we will be ready for Game 6.”
The Lincolns, who were scoreless in 6 power play chances over the previous 2 games, were 3/6 on the power play and are 5/17 (29.5%) in the series. The Maroons were 0/1 with the man advantage and are 2/17 (11.8%) in the series.
Game 6 will take place Sunday night at Chatham Memorial Arena. Game time is 7:00pm. Game 7, if necessary, is scheduled for Tuesday at 7:30pm in St. Marys.
The Eastern Conference Championship also resumed on Friday as the #1 St. Catharines Falcons took a 3-2 series lead with a 4-1 win over the visiting #3 Fort Erie Meteors. Click here for a full recap,
