GEORGETOWN, ON – Michael McNiven had a standout game with 32 saves as the Georgetown Raiders beat the Buffalo Jr. Sabres, 2-1, in Game Two their Ontario Junior Hockey League second-round playoff series. With the win, Georgetown evened the series at 1-1 in the best of seven showdown.
Buffalo’s power play was ineffective against the Raiders’ penalty kill, which allowed one goal while shorthanded.
Georgetown was led by Steve Hladin, who had one goal. Hladin scored 6:19 into the third period to make the score 2-1 Georgetown. Anthony Marra picked up the assist.
The Raiders forced the Jr. Sabres goalie Joseph Pianta to work between the pipes, taking 39 shots.
Georgetown also got a goal from Liam Board as well. In addition, Georgetown received assists from Phil Kiss, Steven Mueller, and Andrew Court, who contributed one each.
Buffalo’s offense rang up 33 shots on Georgetown’s net. The Jr. Sabres did not rack up many penalties in the contest, registering only one minor for two minutes in penalty time.
Buffalo was led by Dylan Howatt, who scored the team’s only goal. Howatt scored on the power play 9:23 into the second period to make the score 1-1. The Jr. Sabres earned a power play opportunity when Steve Midensky was put in the box for interference. Nolan Sheeran provided the assist.
The Raiders incurred 12 minutes in penalty time with six minors. Buffalo’s Pianta stopped 37 shots out of the 39 that he faced.
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Photo: Michael McNiven of the Georgetown Raiders in action earlier in the series. By Ken Czworka, OJHL Images.
