Braves roar back with a come-from-behind victory to even up Schmaltz Cup semi-final

Jackson Andrews takes the puck down the wing during Game 1 of the Tavistock Braves' series against the Lakeshore Canadians. Alec Richard photo

By Lee Griffi

Similar to Game 1, the Tavistock Braves found themselves trailing 2-0 in the first period of Game 2 of their Provincial Junior Hockey League (PJHL) semifinal Tuesday night, this time on home ice.

In the second game of the Schmaltz Cup semi-final series against the Lakeshore Canadiens, the Braves bounced back, earning a 5-2 win over Lakeshore to tie the series at a game apiece in front of over 500 fans at the Tavistock and District Recreation Centre.

The Canadiens jumped out to a two-goal lead just over 14 minutes into the first period, both markers coming off the stick of Vaughn Truppe.

Ethan Stover brought the Braves to within one on a powerplay two and a half minutes later, knocking in a rebound off a Keaton Bartlett point shot with Evan Palubeski earning an assist. Carter Arseneault took a tripping penalty three minutes later, but Tavistock was able to kill it off and head to the locker room trailing 2-1.

Nicholas Hambly tied it up with his first goal of the playoffs just over four minutes into the second period, a shot he blew over Canadiens goalie Boe Piroski’s left shoulder on a two-on-one. Ryan McKellar and Marc Dionne earned assists on the play.

The Braves dominated the rest of the frame and took the lead on Keegan Metcalf’s goal four minutes later. Ethan Stover made it 4-2 on the powerplay followed by another man-advantage goal off the stick of Carson Bernhardt, while Lakeshore’s Aedan Sullivan was ejected after being assessed a five-minute major for checking Tavistock’s Jacob Reid-Brant into the boards. He was helped off the ice and did not return.

McKellar finished with three assists while Stover added a helper to his two-goal night as Tavistock outshot Lakeshore 37-23.

Braves defenceman Jack Hodge was shaken up in the third period after taking a shot to the head in the neutral zone, an infraction missed by the officials.

Tavistock forward Yann Raskin said the entire team knew they had to step it up in order to compete with a really good opponent.

“Right after the first period, we knew we had to make some changes. We did and played Tavi hockey. We didn’t do that in Game 1.”

He added the game’s physicality is a part of playoff hockey

“We can play physically, and we know they can. It will just come down to who works the hardest. I am not surprised this team has gotten this far and we have a team deserving of making a run.”

Lakeshore head coach Brent Walker said he didn’t think the series would be easy.

“We knew they would be a good team and we knew this would be a six or seven game series. We had a good start and we let off the gas, got into penalty trouble and shot ourselves in the foot a bit.”

He added they were a disciplined team during the season, but emotions can get the better of any team.

“Players take liberties, but at the end of the day, we have to be better. We have to be more disciplined, and they have an excellent powerplay and we can’t give them those types of opportunities.”

The Braves capitalized on three of their nine powerplay opportunities while the Canadiens went zero for four.

Eight of the current Lakeshore players have won a Schmaltz Cup and Walker said they will be ready for the pair of weekend games.

“We will bounce back and we have had to bounce back in the playoffs a couple of times. It’s Game 2. These are two great teams competing, and it will be a battle the rest of the way.”

The Canadiens survived a ferocious Braves comeback in Game 1 at home on Sunday, earning a 3-2 victory. Lakeshore took a 2-0 lead into the first intermission on goals from Julian Gignac and Michael Kobcok, who recorded his 15th of the playoffs. Connor Costello made it 3-0 just after the five-minute mark of the second period before Carter Arsenault gave Tavistock life six minutes later. Ryan McKellar made it 3-2 five and a half minutes afterward, but Canadiens goalie Boe Piroski shut the door the rest of the way.

Each team fired 30 shots on goal, with Lakeshore going one for four on the powerplay while Tavistock went zero for two.

Game 3 is set for Friday night in Lakeshore at 7:30 p.m., with Game 4 back in Tavistock on Sunday at 1:30 p.m.