(Photos courtesy of David Pickering NLL)
The Vancouver Warriors (2-1) visited the Oshawa FireWolves (1-3) at the Tribute Centre in Oshawa, Ontario for the Teddy Bear Toss game.
The Warriors were dominant in their victory last week of the Las Vegas Desert Dogs. Adam Charalambides, Curtis Dickson, Jesse King, and Keegan Bal all had strong games.
The FireWolves had another rough outing offensively against Georgia. Only scoring 7 goals in two games is worrisome, with a power-play that is almost non-existent. Facing perennial all-star Christian Del Bianco in the Warriors net could make for another long night.
The goaltending match-up had Christian Del Bianco in net for Vancouver facing Doug Jamieson in net for Oshawa.
The FireWolves got off to a quick start aided by to shorthanded goals in the first quarter. The outside game was working well on Del Bianco as they found the net three times from distance in the first quarter. The second quarter was much more of a defensive struggle, with just one Warriors goal through the frame. At the half, Oshawa took a 4-2 lead to the dressing room.
Although the FireWolves scored first in the third quarter, Vancouver quickly took over. The Warriors got on a three goal run, scoring an even strength, shorty, as well as a power-play goal to tie the game heading to the fourth.
The Warriors kept moving forward in the fourth scoring three more goals to take the lead for good. At the other end, Christian Del Bianco shut the door after the first quarter, only letting one FireWolves goal the rest of the way. Although Oshawa scored late, Vancouver came away with an 8-6 victory.
For Oshawa, although the first quarter was promising, the rest of the game yeilded only two goals, with their power-play woes continuing going 1 for 4. The FireWolves have now scored just 21 goals in their first four games.
To The Game:
Ethan Walker opened the scoring with a laser from the outside off a Patrick Kaschalk pass at 6:28, followed by a shorthanded marker from Dyson Williams with a high to high shot off a Tye Kurtz pass at 9:02. Oshawa continued the early onslaught when Mike Byrne won the draw and went coast to coast unassisted for a second shorthanded goal 0:12 seconds later.
Vancouver got one back when Jackson Subach found the back of the net in transition unassisted at 11:11, but a rip from Alex Simmons to the top corner from the outside restored the three goal lead at 13:26.
After one quarter, Oshawa 4 Vancouver 1.
Second Quarter:
Vancouver opened the second quarter scoring in transition with Marcus Klarich fighting his way to the net beating Doug Jamieson through the five-hole off a Shane Simpson pass at 6:23.
At the half, Oshawa 4 Vancouver 2.
Third Quarter:
Oshawa opened the third period scoring to allow the Teddy Bear Toss to happen.
Taggart Clark fired a screen shot over Del Bianco’s shoulder that found the top corner off a Tye Kurtz pass at 1:49, but the Warriors got it back on a delayed penalty. Keegan Bal fired a howitzer off a Marcus Klarich feed at 4:06.
Curtis Dickson brought Vancouver within one shorthanded on a coast to coast transition play at 5:51 with a great individual effort, followed by Keegan Bal with a power-play blast from the outside off a Jesse King pass at 7:19.
After three quarters, Vancouver 5 Oshawa 5.
Fourth Quarter:
With the teams four on four, Jesse King gave the Warriors their first lead of the night. A laser to the top corner off an Adam Charalambides pass at 2:57, followed by Curtis Dickson flying through the air to open a two goal lead off a Keegan Bal pass at 3:50. Marcus Klarich added his second of the game while falling down off an Adam Charalambides feed at 9:51 for a six goal run.
Oshawa scored a late goal when Ethan Walker scored on the power-play with a quick stick with 7.3 seconds remaining, but it was too little too late.
Final score, Vancouver 8 Oshawa 6.
The Three Stars:
1. Christian Del Bianco
2. Marcus Klarich
3. Curtis Dickson
Game Stats:
- Shots on goal favored the FireWolves 53-42.
- The faceoff battle was dominated by Oshawa 14-5.
- The loose ball battle went to the FireWolves 75-51.
- Vancouver went 1 for 4 on the power-play, also scoring a shorthanded goal.
- Oshawa went 1 for 4 on the power-play, scoring two shorthanded goals.
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