By Darrell Cole
Amherst Daily News
YARMOUTH - The Yarmouth Mariners have life.
Andrew Wigg scored off a Rambler turnover just 10 seconds into overtime to lift the Mariners to a 2-1 win over the Amherst Ramblers in Maritime Junior Hockey League Bent Division final series action here tonight.
The Ramblers lead the series 3-2 heading back to Amherst for Game 6 on Thursday night. Game time is 7:30 p.m.
Just as the overtime was beginning, a Rambler defenceman tried to move the puck up the ice, but his clearing pass was intercepted by Jared Hicks who broke in the left side and threw the puck at the slot with Wigg scoring his first of the series.
Amherst was first on the board when Andrew Smith scored on the power play at 19:02 of the first period when he deflected Jamie Bishop’s blast from the point by Mariners’ goalie Charles Grant. Brandon Street added an assist on the power play goal.
The teams were scoreless in the second period, although the Mariners dominated outshooting Amherst 15-8. Kody Blois made several huge saves to preserve the lead while Grant stopped Smith on a breakaway in the final stages of the second period.
The Ramblers came close to extending the lead early in the third as Cole MacMillan and Justin Matthews both missed great scoring opportunities.
The Mariners finally tied the game with just over 10 minutes to play when Nick Zern’s shot from the point was stopped by Blois. Ryan Nickerson pounced on the rebound to the tie score with Sean Spero adding an assist on the goal.
Jordan Escott will return to the lineup for the Ramblers on Thursday after sitting out a two-game suspension while Mariners’ forward Matt Tomah will be back after serving a three-game ban.
dcole@amherstdaily.com
