Make it nine straight losses to open the season for the High Prairie Regals.
The Manning Comets received three goals from Dave Lawrence and singles from Thomas Dechant and Josh Rutherford as they defeated the visiting Regals 5-2 Nov. 3.
The loss ties the Regals’ streak at nine straight losses to open the season with Fairview, who are no longer in the NPHL.
Jamie MacMinn’s lone goal of the first period gave the Regals the lead. The goaltenders were fabulous as Braden Gamble stopped 14 of 15 shots for the Comets while Matt MacMillan stopped all 17 Comets shot.
In the second period, Rutherford tied the game with just under a minute left in the period. Shortly after, Ross Cowell took a tripping penalty for the Regals which put the Comets on the power play. Thomas Dechant scored and it was a lead the Comets would not relinquish.
The third period belonged to Lawrence. He opened the scoring to make it 3-1 in the first minute, then added a pair of power play goals in the last eight minutes.
Stewart Cunningham’s goal closed the gap to 3-2 with just over five minutes gone but the Regals could not equalize.
The Comets outshot the Regals 43-30 with Gamble picking up the win and MacMillan the loss.
The Regals have now lost 11 straight games in Manning since 2012 and have given up at least six goals in nine of the losses.
Regals 2 at Comets 5
Saturday, Nov. 3
First period
1. HP, Jamie MacMinn 1 (Stewart Cunningham) 17:59
Penalties: Kole Shaw HP (interference) 14:52.
Second period
2. MAN, Josh Rutherford 2 (Dave Lawrence) 19:03
3. MAN, Thomas Dechant 1 (Josh Rutherford, Michael Gillen) 19:32 (pp)
Penalties: Trevor Mortson MAN (holding) 4:26, Josh Rutherford MAN (cross-checking) and Jordy Greschner MAN (tripping) 6:52, Luc L’Hirondelle HP (head contact minor, misconduct) 9:09, Michael Gillen MAN (interference) 14:58, Ross Cowell HP (tripping) 19:06.
Third period
4. MAN, Dave Lawrence 1 (Josh Rutherford, Thomas Dechant) 00:43
5. HP, Stewart Cunningham 1(Lawrence Anderson) 5:13
6. MAN, Dave Lawrence 2 (Thomas Dechant, Michael Gillen) 12:15 (pp)
7. MAN, Dave Lawrence 3 (Steve Kover, Thomas Dechant) 14:11 (pp)
Penalties: Kyler Auger HP (slashing) 5:46, Lawrence Anderson HP (interference) 10:17, Kyler Auger HP (hooking) 11:54, Lawrence Anderson HP (hooking) 13:53, Britt Olischefski MAN (hooking) 19:55.
Shots on goal: High Prairie 15 10 5 -30 Manning 17 14 12 -43
Goaltenders: Regals, Matt MacMillan; Comets, Braden Gamble.
Power Plays: HP 0-4; MAN 3-7.
Penalties in Minutes: HP 24; MAN 10.