The Merritt Centennials were looking to complete the 4 game homestand with 4 wins, but the Wild would spoil perfection by winning 3-2 on Wednesday night.
The Centennials and Wild went back and forth in the first, penalties came heavily on both sides, but no team was able to capitalize with the extra man. Late in the period at the 16:35 mark, Matt Kopperud found some open ice on the left side after a turnover and blasted a laser past Cal Sandqvist for the lone goal of the first. Vincent Duplessis stopped 13 shots in the first, and Sandqvist stopped 8/9.
In the second, the Cents continued their strong play with Kopperud converting just 3:46 into the frame, but the Wild bounced right back with a goal from Jacob Modry that found it’s way through the crowd and beat Duplessis just over the right pad. The Wild then seized momentum and spent the majority of the second in the Centennials zone, and capitalized off a blue line turnover at the 10:31 to make it 2-2. The scoreline would hold to the end of the period. After 2 shots were 25-19 in favour of the Wild.
The final frame saw the Cents make a good push out of the gate, but the Wild slowly imposed their will. With nearly 14 minutes gone in the 3rd, the Cents were caught puck watching as Murphy Stratton gained the zone and killed some time along the half-wall before centering for Matt Dorsey to make it 3-2. The Cents would push and pull the goalie, but the Wild would hang on. Vincent Duplessis picked up the loss with 33 saves on 36 shots while Cal Sandqvist recorded the win with 25 saves on 27 shots.
Energy Player of the Game:
Vincent Duplessis – 33/36
3rd Star: Jacob Modry 1G
2nd Star: Matt Kopperud 2G
1st Star: Matt Dorsey 1 GWG
After the game Head Coach Joe Martin said a couple mistakes cost them.
“There were a couple miscues out there that we wil look to address. We have some things that I’m circling for our meeting tomorrow morning, then we need an intense practice to get back to it.”
The Cents will look to right the ship on the road when they face the Salmon Arm Silverbacks on Friday night, and then return home to the NVMA to face the Trail Smoke Eaters for the first time of the season on Saturday.
