Hockey, like life itself, can be a fickle thing. Just as you are feeling confident and comfortable, along comes a setback. Oh, your stock portfolio is looking good? Let me introduce you to the Covid pandemic. Have a great weekend of wins? Allow me to introduce the Cheektowaga Warriors – Black. Okay, the scale of those two examples might be a bit off, but you get the idea.
The Jamestown Lakers, coming off of a two game stretch that saw them outscore their opponents 17-2, were reminded that without a laser-like focus on team-first play and sound defensive principles, it is very difficult to win a hockey game. The visiting Warriors used far too many grade A scoring opportunities to push themselves to a 7-4 road win over the Lakers Bantam B.
The Lakers really struggled in their own zone in this challenge, surprising for a team that has been so good directly in front of their goaltenders for much of the season. However, the Lakers missed the calming and steady defensive influence of Ben Scott, who was out due to illness.
The Lakers got on the board first with a solid forecheck by Kyler Wojotowicz. Wojotowicz forced a Warrior turnover along the boards. After a quick scramble, linemate Payton Daniels found Chase Kartesz in the slot for a quick backhand-to-forehand shot to the far side to take the 1-0 lead.
However, Cheektowaga responded with two goals in rapid succession. The first was an uncontested one-timer from point-blank range that Laker goalie Brock Eppinger had no chance on.
The second goal against resulted from the Lakers getting caught in their own zone too long and getting out of position.
While the defense was struggling in their own zone, the Lakers blueliners continued their emphasis on pushing the play in the offensive zone. Jackson Kresge made a dazzling rush, splitting the Warriors defense before being stopped by the Cheektowaga keeper.
Kresge, new to the defensive corps, was rescued several times by his partner, Kameron Press. Press seems to be growing as a player before our eyes, and Sunday was no exception. When he wasn’t covering for his partner, he too, was driving the offense. After the Lakers surrendered a third goal, Press provided a spark with a drive-and-dish to Caleb Kimmerly, whose backhand offering was turned aside.
Wojotowicz also got into the offensive action with a nice little drive for a shot, but as was too often the case on Sunday, there just wasn’t enough traffic in front of the Warrior net to make things difficult for the goaltender.
With the first period ending 2-1 favoring the visitors, the Lakers talked about settling down and refocusing their efforts. However, it was Cheektowaga that was first on the board in the second with a 2-on-1 break that found the net.
The Lakers snatched back a bit of momentum as Mikael Anderson grabbed a loose puck in the neutral zone and was off to the races. Facing a one-on-three situation, he utilized his now-patented toe-drag to great effect for his 11th of the season.
The Warriors took a 4-2 lead with 1 minute left in the stanza when Lakers got caught forechecking too aggressively and gave up a 2-0 break on Eppinger. As of this writing, there is no word on whether Eppinger’s teammates apologized and provided him with a steak dinner at the Chop House after the game for abandoning him.
The Lakers wouldn’t end the period without a fight, however. With the clock surrendering its final few seconds, Cooper Shelters grabbed a puck out of the air at center and drove into the Warrior zone. He let a wrister go from the top of the circle that the Warrior tendie stopped. However, the puck came off the pads and found a home on Anderson’s stick. Anderson quickly made a deposit in the Bank of Mesh for his second of the game.
Prior to the third period, the Lakers put an emphasis on mounting a better forecheck. For the first few minutes of the third, the Lakers controlled play. The players were skating better without the puck, which in turn lead to better breakouts. Here is a prime example of the perfect breakout from Press to Carson Winsor to Anderson.
However, Lakers just couldn’t sustain it. Turnovers consistently led to trouble. Fortunately, Eppinger stood tall in the face of 27 shots, many from just outside of the blue paint. An example of Eppinger having to help out his mates is this turnover-to-save.
Cheektowaga scored two goals just eight seconds apart for a 6-3 advantage in the third. Both goals resulted from defensive breakdowns. The Lakers inability to right the ship in their own zone had sealed their fate, but not before one last Lakers highlight.
Cole Mazzurco jumped on a loose puck in the neutral zone. Using linear crossovers to develop speed and unhinge the defender, Mazzurco pulled the puck to his forehand and unleashed some aged-farmhouse cheddar to the top shelf for his third goal in as many games.
Any hopes of a comeback were dashed when Cheektowaga capitalized on a bad change and giveaway for goal number seven. This goal was a microcosm of the Lakers night – too many mistakes, too many players flat-footed, and too many scoring opportunities from the house.
The Lakers will lick their wounds, hit the practice ice on Tuesday and Thursday, and prepare for their final game of the season next Sunday against the Southtowns Stars. In a meeting of these two solid squads earlier in the year, the Stars emerged with a 3-1 victory. The Lakers will be looking to exact revenge in 1 PM start.
Jamestown Lakers 07 Blog 