Admirals even up series with 4-3 home-ice win
ESSEX - The Amherstburg Admirals evened their playoff series at one game apiece Sunday night with a hard-fought 4–3 victory over the Essex 73’s in Amherstburg, thanks in large part to a sensational performance from goaltender Bennett Horrrocks.
Horrrocks was outstanding between the pipes, turning aside 42 of the 45 shots he faced. The Admirals netminder came up with several key saves on high-quality chances, especially during a relentless third-period push from Essex.
Amherstburg opened the scoring early in the first period when Stefan Djordjevic found the back of the net at the 4:42 mark for his 10th goal of the playoffs.
After a scoreless stretch, the 73’s evened things up in the second period when Carter Dembinski scored at 7:38.
The Admirals responded quickly and took control late in the middle frame. Cory Leach restored the Amherstburg lead at 14:40 before Djordjevic struck again just a minute later at 15:40 to make it 3–1. Drew Booker added another for the Admirals on the power play with just nine seconds remaining in the period, giving Amherstburg a 4–1 advantage heading into the third.
Essex pushed hard in the final period, controlling play and peppering the Amherstburg net. Gabe Barrette cut the deficit to two at 3:27, and Drew Ferenc brought the 73’s within one with a goal at 13:27.
Despite being heavily outshot in the third period, including a 15–1 shot advantage for Essex, Horrrocks and the Admirals held firm the rest of the way to secure the victory.
Overall, the 73’s outshot Amherstburg 48–18 on the night but were unable to complete the comeback.
With the win, the best-of series is now tied 1–1.
73's draw first blood in opening game of round two
ESSEX - The Essex 73’s opened their semi-final playoff series in strong fashion Friday night, defeating the Amherstburg Admirals 6–3 at the Essex Centre Sports Complex.
Essex struck first midway through the opening period when Austin Guevremont scored on the power play at 9:22 to give the 73’s a 1–0 lead after the first 20 minutes.
The 73’s extended their advantage early in the second period as Jack Lewis found the back of the net cportesy of a breakaway at 2:28 to make it 2–0.
Amherstburg responded at 7:53 with a power-play goal from Stefan Djordjevic, cutting the lead to 2–1. For Djordjevic, it would be his 8th goal of the playoffs already.
Essex quickly regained control with a pair of goals less than a minute apart. Noah Mathieson scored at 11:43 for his first of the playoffs on a wrister from the slot, and Luke Sherk followed at 12:30 to push the 73’s lead to 4–1 heading into the third period.
Amherstburg made things interesting early in the final frame. Djordjevic scored his second of the game at 5:42, and Cooper Bulmer added a power-play goal at 8:12 to trim the deficit to 4–3.
The 73’s answered quickly to halt the comeback. Travis Rivest restored the two-goal cushion at 9:50 on a tip-in, and Andrew Baker sealed the win with an empty-net goal at 18:01.
With the victory, Essex takes a 1–0 lead in the series.
Essex eliminates Walpole Island in four straight games
The Essex 73's made quick work of the Walpole Island Wild in the opening round of the Stobbs Division playoffs, winning all four games and outscoring the Wild 37-2.
They will now await the winners of the Amherstburg-Mooretown series, and the Blenheim-Whealtey series. Should Whealtey come back from 3-0 and defeat Blenheim, Essex would get Wheatley in round two. If Blenheim can close off their series, then Essex would get the winner of the Amherstburg-Mooretown series, which Amherstbrug leads 3-1.
Whichever the team, the 73's will be well rested and ready to go.
Below is the scoring leaders for the 73's after round one;
