A spirited third period couldn’t make up for a lackadaisical first 40 minutes for the Davidson Cyclones last Wednesday at home as they fell 5-2 to the first place Lanigan Pirates.
Cyclones head coach Jason Shaw said his team didn’t come ready to play against the Pirates (15-5-1), which was evidenced by the away side going up by a goal only 18 seconds into the game and controlling play for much of the first two periods. He said Davidson (12-7-1) came back strong in the third, but Lanigan goaltender David Reekie had other ideas about letting the home whites back into the game.
“It just brings us back to earth,” said Shaw about the Cyclones first loss in 2014. “We have to work hard. We didn’t get off to a good start in Watrous (a 5-2 Davidson win four days earlier). We were down 2-0 after one and came back and (Lanigan) was again not a great start. We came on in the third, so I think we just have to get going right from the drop of the puck and play three full periods then we’ll be all right. From now on they’re all playoff-type games.”
Shaw said the Cyclones recent stretch of six straight wins, before the Pirates plunked them out of a shot at first place, still gives them a chance at second heading into the Long Lake Hockey League playoffs next month. He said the team has to come out strong against the Watrous Winterhawks Jan. 25 and the Nokomis Chiefs this Wednesday to pick up the coveted position.
“We are tied with Drake and Watrous right now (with 25 points), but we still have a game in hand on both of them,” he said. “There could be a possibility where three teams end up with 27 points, but I don’t think the tiebreaker works out in our favour.
“We want to try and win these last two and make sure we get second place. That gives us a first round bye and home ice in the second round of league playoffs.”
Cyclones forward Chad Manz, who was back on the ice against Lanigan after a three-week stint on the injured list, said they didn’t have a good effort versus the Pirates, but every team has games like that at times. He said they can ill afford to have any more stinkers this year and have to bounce back in these last two games.
“This one against Watrous, because that’s who we’re battling for second, is the most important one,” said Manz. “That’ll determine second place. If we lose on (Jan. 25) we can’t get second, but we’re in control of our own destiny. We pretty much have to beat Nokomis too, but that shouldn’t be a problem.”
To read more please see the January 27 print edition of The Davidson Leader.