Penalty killers deliver again

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Saturday, April 11th 2009

Penalty killers deliver again
Caps take lead in front of packed house

SUMMERSIDE
JASON SIMMONDS
The Journal Pioneer

The Summerside Western Capitals are back in front of the Truro Bearcats, thanks in large part to another stellar performance by the team's penalty-killing units.
The Capitals, who were also boosted by the return of captain Brett Gallant, scored three unanswered second-period goals and killed off all 11 Truro power plays en route to a 5-2 victory Thursday night.
“We work hard on our penalty killing and it’s winning games for us right now,” said Capitals head coach Kenny MacDougall. “We need to continue to be aggressive, make good reads and that’s why we’re successful right now.”
The Capitals lead the best-of-seven Maritime Junior ‘A’ Hockey League’s Kent Cup final series 2-1, with Game 4 in Truro, N.S., Saturday night. Game 5 is in Summerside Tuesday.
Thursday’s contest was played before an announced crowd of 4,096 fans — the largest crowd to watch a hockey game on P.E.I. since Game 6 of the 2007 Kent Cup final between the Caps and Truro.
“I haven’t experienced a big crowd like that before,” said forward Chad Locke, who led the Capitals with two goals and an assist. “As soon as we came out for the first period, our crowd was roaring.”
Gallant, who dislocated his shoulder in Game 1 Sunday, added a goal and an assist while Spencer Corcoran and Will Johnston also scored for the Capitals.
Dana Fraser and Steve Pearson replied for Truro.
After the teams exchanged first-period goals, the Capitals scored three unanswered goals and killed off four Truro power plays in the middle frame to open up a 4-1 lead.
“We all came together after the first period,” said Locke. “We had a little pep talk in the dressing room; Kenny tried to get us going and it worked.”
The Capitals outworked the Bearcats in the second period while receiving goals from Gallant (6:33), Johnston (14:45) and Locke (18:46).
“If you look at the second period, that was a real test for us,” said MacDougall. “We played with more desperation and that's what we need to do all the time.”
But some nervous moments awaited in the third period. Pearson’s fluke power-play goal off a funny bounce at 3:27 made it 4-2. Then Truro went on a two-man power play for 1:16 with 15:46 left and had a man advantage for 3:13 of a five-minute slashing major near the halfway mark of the final frame.
“We got a little unglued and a little rattled,” said MacDougall. “But playoffs are all about learning lessons and I thought we composed ourselves well, killed the penalties off and got that big fifth goal, which we needed to do.”
Corcoran scored that goal at 14:31.