Chris Clegg
NPHL.com Writer
The Falher Pirates’ impressive winning streak is over, thanks to the Manning Comets and goaltender Braden Gamble.
Gamble stopped 59 of 62 shots as MAN defeated FAL 5-3 Jan. 11, including 28 saves on 29 third period shots which saw the Pirates storm MAN’s net trying to tie and win the game.
MAN led 2-0 after one period on goals from J.P. Perron and Jarrod Lorencz, despite being outshot 17-10. It was the first goal of the season for each player.
FAL quickly tied the game in the second period by scoring goals in the first six minutes. Trevor Tokarz was the first to beat Gamble, on a power play, then Darren Kramer’s 20th of the season tied the game.
The last 10 minutes of the second period was all MAN. Thomas Simpson gave MAN a lead they would not surrender the rest of the night. Perron and Taylor Paulovich added power play goals to give MAN a commanding lead heading into the third period. The three goals were scored in a 1:34 span.
Jay Anderson scored the only goal of the third for FAL with 1:53 left but it was too little, too late.
The win gave MAN [8-10-0-0] a two-point lead over the Grimshaw Huskies [6-9-2-0] in the race for second in the East Division. Currently, MAN would win any tiebreaker with GRIM if the teams were tied at the end of the season based on total wins.
Comets 5 at Pirates 3
Friday, Jan. 11
First period
1. MAN, J.P. Perron 1 (Thomas Simpson, Brit Oleschefski) 6:49
2. MAN, Jarrod Lorencz 1 (Taylor Paulovich, Tyler Dillman) 14:47 (pp)
Penalties: Jarrod Lorencz MAN (hooking) 9:13, Jay Anderson FAL (slashing) 10:40, Kevin Monfette FAL (boarding) 12:47, Dylan Cunningham FAL (hooking) 13:16, Thomas Simpson MAN and Dakota Mason FAL (double slashing minors) 17:49.
Second period
3. FAL, Trevor Tokarz 7 (Joel Pelletier, Darren Brochu) 2:39 (pp)
4. FAL, Darren Kramer 20 (Dylan Cunningham) 5:46
5. MAN, Thomas Simpson 1 (Brit Oleschefski, Taylor Paulovich) 10:02
6. MAN, J.P. Perron 2 (Tyler Dillman, Jarrod Lorencz) 10:58 (pp)
7. MAN, Taylor Paulovich 10 (Tyler Dillman, Jordy Greschner) 11:36 (pp)
Penalties: Michael Gillen MAN (interference) 1:41, Jarrod Lorencz MAN (cross-checking) 2:39, Michael Gillen MAN (holding, misconduct) and Dakota Mason FAL (slashing major, game misconduct) 2:53, Thomas Simpson MAN (hooking) and Joel Pelletier MAN (holding) 4:31, Jeff Chalifoux FAL (boarding) 10:25, Dylan Cunningham FAL (tripping) 11:31, Taylor Paulovich MAN (hooking) 15:32, Taylor Cote FAL (cross-checking) 18:35.
Third period
8. FAL, Jay Anderson 6 (Taylor Cote, Kevin Monfette) 18:07
Penalties: J.P. Perron MAN (holding) and Brennan Walker FAL (check to the head minor, roughing, misconduct) 4:33, Pat Rowan FAL (slashing) 13:39.
Shots on goal:
Manning 10 10 5 -25
Falher 17 16 29 -62 Goaltenders: Comets, Braden Gamble; Pirates, Dyson Loewen (Chad Rycroft in at 11:36 of second period).
Power Plays: MAN 3-9; FAL 1-4.
Penalties in Minutes: MAN 28; FAL 49.