(Photo courtesy of Georgia Swarm Instagram)
The Georgia Swarm (6-4) faced the Toronto Rock (3-8) at the Paramount Fine Foods Centre in Mississauga, Ontario Saturday evening in front of 5,184 fans.
The Swarm were fresh off a bye week and looking to push forward in the second half of the season. Lyle Thompson (27g,23a) is leading the team with Andrew Kew (12g,26a), Bryan Cole (19g,11a), Brendan Bomberry (8g,20a), and Shayne Jackson (10g,19a) playing a big role as well.
The injury bug keeps striking the Toronto Rock. This time Brian Cameron is on the IR. However, the Rock announced that free agent Nathan Grenon had signed a one year deal with them, and would be in the lineup for this game. The Rock had dropped their last two games (San Diego, and Buffalo) by a single goal, and lost as well to the Swarm in December also by merely one goal. Toronto was looking to get on the plus side in this game.
The goaltending match-up had Brett Dobson in net for the Swarm facing Nick Rose in net for Toronto.
A game where both teams were evenly matched, had this showcase great goals, great saves, solid defense, as well as end to end action.
Shayne Jackson (3g,3a) and Lyle Thompson (3g,4a) led the Swarm, who needed extra time to get past the Rock 11-10. For Toronto, Corey Small (5g,1a) led the way including two late goals to send the game to overtime.
In the extra period, after six and a half minutes of end to end action, Miles Thompson converted a Lyle Thompson pass from the side of the net with a quick stick to win the game for Georgia.
To The Game:
The Rock opened the scoring on the power-play with Josh Dawick firing a low to low laser off a Tom Schreiber pass at 4:08, but a defensive lapse had Kaleb Benedict all alone at 4:49 to tie the game.
Georgia grabbed their first lead of the game when Lyle Thompson fired a bullet from the outside off an Andrew Kew feed at 6:37, but again on the power-play the Rock answered with Corey Small firing a high to low shot off a Tom Schreiber pass at 8:13.
The Swarm once again took the lead with great work from Kaleb Benedict finding Lyle Thompson for his second of the night at 8:55, but again Corey Small had the answer converting a Nathan Grenon pass at 13:10.
After one quarter, Toronto 3 Georgia 3.
Second Quarter:
Shayne Jackson opened the second quarter scoring with a blast just as a Toronto penalty expired at 3:07, but an outside blast from Chris Boushy tied the game once again at 4:42.
Corey Small’s third of the game gave the Rock the lead with a quick stick off a Tom Schreiber pass at 6:23, followed by Josh Dawick diving from behind the net off a Tom Schreiber pass at 11:19.
The Swarm got one back when Jordan MacIntosh fired a sidearm snipe from the outside off a Brian Cole feed at 12:45, but Chris Boushy in transition restored the two goal lead at 14:06.
Georgia pressed with the goalie on the bench and were rewarded with a late goal. Brian Cole beat Nick Rose with just 0:01.4 seconds left in the half to tighten the game to just one goal.
At the half, Toronto 7 Georgia 6.
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Third Quarter:
A quarter with both teams showcasing their torrid defenses. Lots of opportunities from both squads but no scoring in the quarter.
After three quarters, Toronto 7 Georgia 6.Fourth Quarter:
Fourth Quarter:
Georgia tied the game early in the quarter when Miles Thompson grabbed a rebound off a Lyle Thompson shot at 2:10, followed by Lyle Thompson finding the far quarter from in close off a Shayne Jackson pass at 3:10.
After an overturned goal that the Rock thought they had scored, Chris Boushy stormed back with a blast from in front off a Dan Craig at 4:14, but on a delayed penalty the Swarm regained the lead when Shayne Jackson with a quick stick off a Brian Cole feed at 5:56. On the five minute power-play Shayne Jackson added another with a blast off a Brian Cole pass at 8:20.
Corey Small put the Rock on his back scoring two late goals. The first brought the Rock within one goal with a low to low shot off a Dan Craig pass at 12:37, followed by a bounced shot that beat Brett Dobson to the stick side at 14:33.
After regulation, Toronto 10 Georgia 10.
Overtime:
In overtime, after over five minutes of torrid play, Miles Thompson quick sticked a Lyle Thompson pass from the side of the net at 6:28 for the game winner.
Final score, Georgia 11 Toronto 10.
The Three Stars:
1. Corey Small
2. Lyle Thompson
3. Shayne Jackson
Game Stats:
- Shots on goal favored Toronto 65-51.
- The faceoff battle went to TD Ierlan of the Rock, dominating the dot 20-6.
- The loose ball battle was won by the Rock 99-70.
- The Swarm went 2 for 2 on the power-play, while Toronto went 2 for 3.
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