Goals cover up early struggles

   Stars survive early 'sloppy' play for 6-1 win over Strathroy

Sunday, January 21, 2018

By Rob J. Ross 

ST. THOMAS - For two periods the Strathroy Rockets carried the play and held the advantage in shots. But the Rockets couldn't produce what mattered most on the scoreboard.

Despite being outplayed, the St. Thomas Stars did score and led 3-1 after two periods. The home team added three more goals in the third for a 6-1 win, tightening the log jam of teams battling for second place, in Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League Western Conference.

The win gives the Stars 47 points, three back of the LaSalle Vipers, Leamington Flyers and Sarnia Legionnaires, all tied for that second position with 50 points. The London Nationals lead the chase pack by 14 points.

"The first 10 minutes was just a sloppy period. They (Rockets) were being aggressive trying to create scoring chances. For us, we just had to be patient and wait for their turnovers," Stars' head coach Darren Kelly said. "It was back and forth for the first half of the game. We had some power play chances where we created a lot of pressure but not any goals. We should have scored on our five-on-three. Sometimes that can come back and bite you."

Strathroy was out-shooting the Stars, 12-5, when Kevin Hu scored while short-handed, giving the home team a 1-0 lead. Curtis Ferreira had the Stars up 2-0, after 20 minutes.

"We had a slow start, with only one shot after 12 minutes. Over the first 15 minutes, I think they (Strathroy) carried the play. We were lucky to get out of the first period with the lead. If they had buried one, it may have been a closer game at the end," Hu said. "But we found our groove and everyone started scoring. We should have buried a couple more on the power plays, but everyone came through."

St. Thomas was two-for-nine with the man advantage, but couldn't find the back of the net, during a five-on-three power play for 1:10, late in the second period, leading just 3-1.

The Stars finally doused the Rockets in the third period, highlighted with Hu's second goal of the night, on a partial break, just 43 seconds into the final frame.

Craig McKague and Thomas McLatchie, on the power play, scored in the third. Jake Robinson, on the power play and Strathroy's Braeden Bowers, traded goals in the second period.

Jake Desando had two assists, while Stars' goalie Jesse Hodgson made 30 saves. In the end, the Stars out shot the Rockets, 35-31.

The Stars improve to 2-1-1-0, in 2018.

"We have to keep pace with everybody. We're right in the mix," Kelley said. "We have Leamington coming in (January 26) and that's a game we have to win."