AMHERST - They ain't dead yet.
The Ramblers moved closer to catching the Yarmouth Mariners for the fifth and final playoff berth in the Maritime Junior A Hockey League's Bent Division with a 6-0 win over the Campbellton Tigers on Saturday in front of 494 fans at the Stadium.
Amherst is two points behind Yarmouth with two games left to the Mariners' one. The Ramblers visit Pictou County on Tuesday, then wrap up the regular season at home to Truro this Saturday, the same night that Yarmouth hosts Halifax.
If Amherst and Yarmouth win out, the Ramblers will finish fifth since the first tiebreaker is regular-season wins (Amherst would have 21 to Yarmouth's 20).
The Mariners have the edge in the next tiebreaker, head-to-head record, by winning four of six matchups.
The minimum Amherst would have to do would be win once then get help from Halifax, which will be playing its third game in as many nights when it gets to Yarmouth, to advance.
"We knew this was a must-win," said forward Kody Orr, who netted his 11th goal of the season. "We came together as a team, and I think tonight we showed people we're still a legit candidate to make some noise in the playoffs,"
Amherst took control of this game early with four goals in the first 14:42 to chase Campbellton starter Samuel Renault from the net. Jeremy Barron scored twice with the man advantage, giving him 11 power-play goals among his 21 for the season. Justin Matthews also scored twice - his team-leading 25th and 26th on the year - and added a helper, and Jonathan Pardy contributed a goal and an assist.
Josh Coleman and Brandon Street chipped in two assists apiece. Street, eight days removed from dislocating the acromioclavicular joint in his right shoulder, was used only on the power play and was shut down early in the third period. Amherst used its bench liberally throughout the game.
"Tonight was a complete team effort," said Ramblers goaltender Jon Waye, who made 38 saves for his second shutout of the season.
"Guys were sacrificing their bodies blocking shots when we were up 6-0 in the third period, and that's what you like to see out there. Everyone did their part to win that game for us."
NOTES - Kodi Estey was a healthy scratch for Amherst ... Halifax and Bridgewater clinched playoff berths yesterday. Halifax beat Pictou County 5-2 and Bridgewater doubled up Summerside 4-2. Halifax and Bridgewater remain tied for third in the Bent.
jjewers@amherstdaily.com
Ramblers blank Tigers to inch closer to playoffs
-
Published on
February 22, 2010
- Published on February 24, 2010
-
Jody Jewers
- Rate
- Top of the page
.jpg){kind=small}
