MOUNT WILLIAM – Is that glass half-full, or half-empty?
The Junior A Crushers dropped a pair of overtime road games on the weekend to stretch their winless streak to three games, but they still collected points in the Maritime Hockey League standings.
On Saturday night against the Yarmouth Mariners, Evan MacLennan and Jaden Mason had the goals for Pictou County, who surrendered a 2-1 lead with less than six minutes to go in the third period. That would lead to a Mariners’ power play goal from Derrick Johnson – he'd tied it in regulation – after Mason was called for a tripping penalty in the extra session.
“Obviously, we wanted to get two points from both of those games,” said MacLennan, who added that, on the plus side, they still had something to show for their effort.
“We had played two really good games, and (losing late leads) is definitely tough to swallow, when they tie it up with a couple of minutes left, but that happens."
Friday in Lunenburg, the Crushers also let a one-goal lead slip away in the latter stages of the third period and lost 5-4 in overtime against the South Shore Lumberjacks, with Matt Sabean getting the OT winner.
Barrett Dachyshyn had two goals and an assist for Pictou County, Aiden Hickey and MacLennan also scored goals and Dylan Riley had three assists.
“We were happy with the effort overall,” coach Doug Doull said of the Crushers’ weekend.
“You’re never satisfied when you don’t get the two points in both games, but you get points when you can, especially with key injuries (to veteran forwards Jacob Hickey and Jake Martin). This is a good time to evaluate other players.”
Notes:
• The Crushers host the Truro Bearcats this coming Thursday.
• Evan MacLennan and Aiden Hickey both have three goals in four games to lead the team in that category.
• Barrett Dachyshyn (2G, 5A) and Dylan Riley (1G, 6A) are tied for the team lead in points.
• Goaltender Sean Julien played both games this weekend, but Doull is no rush to name a No. 1 netminder between Julien and Matt Normore.
“A guy will eventually emerge as a goaltender you have a good feeling about, or maybe they both keep kicking and battling, giving us a chance to win every night.”
