By Stephen Dafoe
Morinville – The Morinville jets emerged from a rough first period Friday night to take the first game of a best-of-three series with the Edmonton Mustangs 6-4.
The Jets took on the Mustangs four times during the regular season, defeating the club twice and losing to them twice in overtime. Friday night’s contest showed the Mustangs, who ended the regular season just three points behind the Jets, were not a team easily knocked off the puck.
The Jets got off on the wrong skate Friday night, allowing Mustang Blake Grainger to pick up an unassisted goal 63 seconds after the opening faceoff. The goal seemed to rattle Jets backstop Mike Saunders who seemed unsure of himself for the remainder of the period. Saunders allowed a second goal past his pads 10 minutes later to give the Mustangs a 2-0 lead heading into the second frame. Despite outshooting the Mustangs 13-9, the Jets were unable to get one past the crease.
The second period looked like more of the same for the Jets. Although Josh Lafleche opened scoring for the Jets six minutes into the period, the Mustangs answered on a powerplay advantage a minute later to restore their two-goal lead at 3-1. However, late in the frame, the Jets built on a powerplay goal scored by Russell Turner to turn on the steam and pick up another two goals before the period was over.
Starting the final period leading 4-3, the Jets increased the margin by one when Turner picked up with second goal of the game, once again on the powerplay with 12 minutes left in the period. It was a goal answered three minutes later by the Mustangs to bring the game within one goal of a tie; however, Coltin Sedrovic sealed the win for the Jets in the final minute of game play sending a rink-length shot into an empty Mustangs’ net.
Other CJHL Playoff Results
Three other contests took place over the weekend. The St. Albert Merchants were defeated 5-4 by the Spruce Grove Regals, the Wetaskiwin Icemen defeated the Sherwood Park Regals 4-3 and the Fort. Saskatchewan Pyramid Hawks defeated the Strathcona Bruins 3-2 in overtime.
The Jets played game two of the series in Edmonton Sunday night. Game results were not available by MorinvilleNews.com deadline.
