BRANTFORD – The Brantford Blast are locked in a titanic battle with the Stoney Creek Generals in Allan Cup Hockey playoff action.
Brantford took Game #1, Feb. 27th by the score of 5-2, but the Generals regrouped and beat the Blast 7-4 on Sunday afternoon, in Stoney Creek.
Cam Sault played well with the Blast last season, and this year he has again proven himself to be one of the Blast’s most consistent and dependable players. He showed why on Sunday, scoring once and assisting on both goals scored by linemate Chris Rebernik.
He and Rebernik played together in the minor pros and, now reunited in Brantford, they are a perfect match on the same line. Sault is always moving and is not only fast, but quick to read a play. On Sunday, Sault delivered two perfectly timed cross-ice passes, which Rebernik converted.
Sault’s second period goal was the result of he and teammates Rebernik and Chris Leveille quickly jumping into the play and catching the Generals flatfooted.
Joel Prpic made it 1-0 at 9:38 of the first period but Stoney Creek accounted for the next goal to finish the period with the Generals leading 2-1.
Sault tied the game at 1:04 of the second, but Stoney Creek closed the period leading 4-2, with two late period goals.
Rebernik cut the Generals’ lead by one at 3:54 of the third period from Sault and Mike Burgoyne.
But the Generals got that one back before the Reberik-Sault connection struck again at 12:57.
Joel Prpic was assessed a roughing penalty and before he had a chance to take a drink of water in the penalty box, the Generals capitalized on the powerplay and he was released.
Stoney Creek scored again at 17:56 and hung onto the lead until the final buzzer sounded.
Friday night, in Brantford, Blast veteran goaltender Anthony Marshall earned the first star selection of Game #1, using his tall frame and long legs to stone Stoney Creek shooters in Brantford’s 5-2 win, turning away 46 of 48 shots to hold the fort while the Blast offense went to work.
The Generals’ Chris Knighton was the first to punch the clock at 10:15 of the opening period with a powerplay marker with Brad Jones off for cross checking. Dustin Alcock evened things up at 1-1 by the end of the period from Mike Burgoyne and Dave Russell.
Derek Medeiros gave the Blast the 2-1 lead early in the second. The Blast added another when the Generals were caught flatfooted on a Brantford transition, resulting in a two-on-one, with Burgoyne and Andrew Marcoux assisting.
Joel Prpic opened the third period giving a 4-1 lead but Stoney Creek’s Matthew Reynolds got that one back making it 4-2 at 15:26.
Dustin Alcock stripped a Generals defender of the puck in front of the Stoney Creek goal, took a step in and dished off to a speeding Jamie Williams who beat Daniel Svedin with a one-timer for the 5-2 final score.
The two teams tangle again on Friday March 6th, in Brantford, before heading back to Stoney Creek for Game #4, Sunday March 8th, at 2:30 pm. Game #5 is in Brantford, Friday the 13th.