Huskies lose OT heartbreaker

What can I say about the Huskies and their game with the Navs last night.

So game 3 was canceled because the Navs couldn't make the trip due to weather and road conditions. So Sunday night which was supposed to be game 4 turned into game 3. Confused yet? That means game 4 will be tonight at the NPA game 5 will be Wednesday at the NPA. Game 6 if necessary will be Thursday night in Peace River and game 7 will be here in FSJ if necessary although I have no clue when that game would be played.

So it was game 3 and because of the unusual circumstances of the game it was a huge pivotal game in the series. The Huskies could have gone up 2 games to 1 with 3 of the last 4 games of the series at home where the Huskies are almost unbeatable. But they weren't able to pull the victory out and they return home down 2-1 and the Navs have all the momentum and a chance, if they can steal one on the road, to return home with the series on the line. They could even win the series with 2 victories in FSJ but let's not contemplate that at this time.

So game 3 was played on Sunday night in Peace River and it was all Huskies. They were dominant in the first 2 periods carrying the play to the Navs. Their fore check was causing the Navs fits. The only time Peace River were able to release the pressure was when their top line was on the ice. That's probably why they were playing every second shift by the third period. It was Bunn, Young and Richardson almost all the time for the Navs. Other than the two times they hit the iron in the second period it was comprehensive for the Huskies. The problem? They only has a 2-0 lead and with a minute left in the period disaster struck. The Huskies took a bad penalty late in the period, the Navs won the offensive zone faceoff and scored with less than a minute left in the period. Then with about 8 seconds left in the period Payden Wongstedt blew a tire in the neutral zone, couldn't bat the puck away from Gerry Young who sped in alone and scored. 2-2 after 2 and the Huskies must have been deflated.

They come out well in the 3rd period though and managed to restore a lead thanks to Robby Sidhu who had already set up Cody Kalb earlier in the game thanks to a great pass. The young Midget call up was playing his first game as a junior and made a great play. He threw the puck to the front of the net. Steve Fast provided the screen and it floated in past Bretton Stewart in the Navs goal. It was then that the Navs really dug deep and thanks to that top line they changed the momentum and eventually got the tying goal and we went to OT for the first time in the series. The Huskies had chances including a great one for Cam McKinnon early in OT that Stewart stopped with his stick. In fact the shot broke Stewart's stick and he continued to use it. Should have been penalty but the ref missed it.

What a heartbreaking end for the Huskies who were unlucky when the puck found it's way to the in form player of the series Kyle Richardson. He was alone on the door step and roofed it over a sprawling Zack Blain and the Navs won the game with 15 seconds left in the first OT. For Richardson it was his 6th goal of the series so far in 3 games.

The Navs celebrated like a group of youngsters would after an emotional victory. Although I will say this, Joel Balfour went out of his way to celebrate in the face of Huskies captain Jon Spence after he Navs captain came off the bench to celebrate with his teammates. I mean skated straight over to Spence with his arms in the air and was yelling and celebrating while staring and Spence. It happens because these are kids and they are young and their emotion gets the best of them. I hate to criticize these kids as well. But I will say this. It lacked a little class. And my coach when I was a kid and my father if he had seen that both would have whipped my ass. If there is one thing you should never do in my opinion it is show up and disrespect an opponent.

You can't blame the Navs for being happy though as they now have a 2-1 lead in the series and a chance to do some damage here in FSJ. Game 4 goes tonight at the NPA at 8 pm.