The Ottawa Black Bears (2-1) visited the Toronto Rock (0-4) at the Paramount Fine Foods Centre in Mississauga, Ontario Saturday evening in front of a sellout crowd of 5,196.
Ottawa is coming off a lopsided 18-7 loss to the Buffalo Bandits. While the Black Bears put up a good fight, but the combination of Dhane Smith, Chris Cloutier, Josh Byrne, Chase Fraser and company was just too much for them on this night.
The Rock put forth their best effort of the season losing in the final minute against the Georgia Swarm. Josh Dawick and Chris Boushy continued their hot starts. For success, the transition game needs to come to life as well.
The goaltending match-up had Zach Higgins in net for the Black Bears facing Nick Rose in net for the Rock.
A spirited affair from the start saw 14 goals between the two teams. All first half it was punch, counterpunch from both teams. Jacob Dunbar led the way with four goals for Ottawa, while Chris Boushy had a hat-trick in the half for Toronto. At halftime it was all tied 7-7.
The second half saw the goalies take over with lots of big saves. Toronto pulled ahead 11-8, and with six minutes remaining were cruising. Enter Jeff Teat with two goals and an assist to tie the game in under 2.5 minutes. Taggart Clark added the game winner with just under 2:00 to go. The Rock thought they tied the game with 0:04 seconds left, but on review, Chris Boushy had the ball in the crease 4 seconds earlier to negate the goal. Ottawa held on for the 12-11 victory.
To The Game:
The Rock jumped out in front quickly when Chris Boushy scored from in front off a Josh Dawick pass at 1:05, but Jacob Dunbar tied the game with a beautiful dive across the crease off a Jeff Teat pass at 3:03.
Mark Matthews gave Toronto the lead once again with an outside shot that found the shortside off a Josh Dawick pass at 3:56, followed by Chris Boushy with a skip shot off an Aaron Woods pass at 8:09.
Callum Jones picked up a loose ball off a turnover at midfield scoring all alone at 12:46, followed by a blast from Jeff Teat off a Brent Noseworthy pass 0:18 seconds later to tie the game.
Jacob Dunbar gave the Black Bears the lead with a shot from the top of the crease off a Jeff Teat pass at 13:47, but the Rock tied it with a dive across the crease from Dan Craig off a Mark Matthews pass at 14:52
After one quarter, Ottawa 4 Toronto 4.
Second Quarter:
The Black Bears took the lead when Jacob Dunbar scored his third of the game off a Jake Stevens pass at 2:12, but Toronto stormed back with Josh Jubinville scoring off a Mitch de Snoo pass in transition at 2:26.
The Rock took the lead on the power-play off a quick stick from Josh Dawick converting a Mark Matthews pass at 7:36, but a sidearm snipe from Jacob Dunbar off a Kiel Matisz pass at 10:29 tied the game once again.
The Rock took the lead on the power-play with a laser from Chris Boushy off a Dan Craig pass at 11:33, but again Ottawa came back with John LaFontaine scoring on a breakaway at 12:53.
At the half, Toronto 7 Ottawa 7.
Third Quarter:
Toronto got on the board quickly with a great individual effort from Phil Mazzuca going in all alone off a Josh Jubinville pass at 0:23 seconds, followed by Josh Dawick with a high to low laser from the outside off a Mark Matthews pass at 5:24.
Ottawa came back with a shorthanded goal when Luc Magnan scored off a Matt Marinier pass at 7:03.
After three quarters, Toronto 9 Ottawa 8.
Fourth Quarter:
Josh Dawick scored the next two goals for the Rock. The first restored the two goal Toronto lead on the power-play with a quick stick off a Mark Matthews pass at 6:02, followed by being sent in all alone off a Dan Craig pass at 6:53 for his fourth of the game.
Ottawa kept pressing with Jeff Teat picking the top corner off a Callum Jones pass at 9:04, followed by Teat then picking the shortside off a Connor Kearnan pass at 10:09 to bring the game within one goal.
The Black Bears tied the game when Kiel Matisz scored from the side of the net off a Jeff Teat pass at 12:25, followed by Taggart Clark giving them the lead with a high to low shot off a Larson Sundown pass at 13:01.
Toronto thought they tied the game with just 0:04 seconds left and Nick Rose on the bench. Dan Craig shot high to low, but on review, Chris Boushy had been in the crease with the ball four seconds earlier to negate the goal.
Final score, Ottawa 12 Toronto 11.
The Three Stars:
1. Jeff Teat
2. Josh Dawick
3. Jacob Dunbar
Game Stats:
- Shots on goal favored the Rock 53-46.
- The faceoff battle was dominated by Ottawa 19-9.
- The loose ball battle was won by the Black Bears 72-68.
- The Black Bears went 1 for 1 on the power-play, also scoring a shorthanded goal.
- The Rock went 3 for 4 on the power-play.
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