The Storm would hit the road for their first playoff game against the Blenheim Blades.
The opponent would show the Storm that they would not be taken easily scoring within the first minute of the match. The Blades would dominate Mooretown for most of the period and when the Storm got their chances they wouldn’t be able to buy a goal to get them on the board. Shaw would find his groove helping the team battle back to gain some momentum and with Mooretown getting their physical play going with Plain and Molson leading the body check charge, they hoped to bring the pendulum back to their side.
Dumoulin would be robbed early in the second period but on his second attempt would whistle into the corner of the net to tie the game. The refs would call Mooretown to the box during frame and the fans voiced their concerns over the lopsided decisions. Even so, the Storm would kill off the penalties and refocus their efforts on the Blenheim netminder. Unfortunately, the Blades would cut into the Mooretown’s plans scoring to take lead once again. The Storm’s persistence and grit would pay off in the dying seconds of the period with Kilbreath depositing the puck under the goalie’s arm to tie the game before the final period started.
Mooretown would come out strong in the third moving the puck well but could not capitalize on their power play. Villeneuva would have his blue line shot stolen from him via a hot Blade glove. The Blades would take advantage of a defensive breakdown in front of Shaw scoring to take the lead and would add to that shortly thereafter converting on a Storm PK to make it a 4-2 game. Mooretown would attempt to battle back but a great attempt by Bogaert and Williams would be turned away.
The Storm would take the loss and have choice but to regroup in order to face their next opponent head on.
SCORESHEET:
1. Dumoulin (Plain, Bogaert)
2. Kilbreath (Plain)