Blades win in OT on Bateman’s goal – streak now seven straight
Blades win in OT on Bateman’s goal, streak now seven straight
PETROLIA – One streak ended after two hundred and thirty eight minutes and 27 seconds, and another continued in Petrolia Thursday night as the Blenheim Blades, thanks to a late overtime goal by defenceman Owen Bateman, defeated the Petrolia Flyers 4-3.
The streak that ended was goalie Eric Stewardson’s perfection between the pipes that included three straight shutouts. When Kole Keating scored a powerplay goal at 1:27 of the third period for the Flyers it was the first shot that went past Stewardson since Joe DeSena of the Mooretown Flags scored at 3:41 of the third period on Oct. 2.
The streak that is continuing is the Blades winning streak that is now seven games, and an unbeaten stretch of eight. The win gives the Provincial Junior Hockey League Stobbs Division leaders a 9-1-2 first place record and a seven-point lead on the Dresden Kings and the Essex ’73s who are tied for second.
The Blades are 5-0-2 on the road and 4-1-0 at home. They will be on the road again Saturday when they travel to Amherstburg to play the Admirals at 7:30 p.m., and then will return home Sunday for a 7 p.m. contest against the Kings.
In Thursday’s win over the 4-7-0 Flyers Blenheim carried a 2-0 lead going into the third period thanks to goals by Nick Delyzer, assisted by Bateman, and Kier Cumming. Delyzer’s goal was his 10th of the year, while for Cumming it was his sixth. Dustin Maines assisted of the Cumming goal.
The Flyers finally ended Stewardson’s shutout string when Keating scored 1:27 into the third period. Blenheim’s George Wood was sitting out a slashing penalty at the time.
Petrolia came right back to tie the game at 4:12 when Kirklin Dorman scored, and then took a 3-2 lead thanks to a second goal by Keating at 16:36.
The lead did not last long as Drew Marlatt evened things at 3-3 when he scored an unassisted goal for the Blades at 18:07 to forced overtime. The goal was Marlatt’s fifth of the year.
That set the stage for Bateman who ended the game with his fifth score of the season, an unassisted goal at 5:07 of the seven minute three-on-three period.
Bateman has found the scoring touch this season, his third with the Blades. In his other two he managed just three goals in 80 games. He also played two seasons with Port Parry scoring just four goals in 66 games.
BLADES BITS: The Blades oustshot the Flyers 46-34 and have outscored the opposition 27-6 during their current winning streak…The game was a chippy affair with each team taking 34 minutes in penalties…The Blades went 0-5 on the powerplay while the Flyers were 1-5…Thursday, Oct. 27, when the Blades play the Wheatley Sharks, will be “High School Student Night” with any high school student showing a valid student card getting in for free…The team will be holding a Quarter Auction Friday, Nov. 4 at the Blenheim Legion…Tickets are available in the lobby during home games…The Blades Alumni will be hosting a “Steak Night” Monday, Nov. 7 at the Blenheim Legion. The cost is $15 and tickets are available in the lobby at home games or by calling Dave at 519-676-2022, Ryan at 519-359-6514 or Lee at 519-676-5204.