The Wildcats stepped up their play today and had some good back pressure and fore check on the Hurricane squad. The Valley’s hard work allowed them to capitalize on a late chance, Blanchard (Moody, Thibeault), to open the scoring much like yesterday’s with just twenty seconds remaining in the first.

The Hurricane had chances but failed to find the target as shots hit post, slipped through pads and missed nets. The Valley on the other hand found the mark as Ryan Parker (Janes, Tidman) fired a nice shot to capitalize on one of the few opportunities the Hurricane would give up to go up two heading into the third frame.

There wasn’t really anything wrong necessarily with the Hurricane play; it just seemed the Hurricane were on cruising speed and perhaps thinking it would just come. As with most things you can’t just steer, its ineffective, if you’re not moving. It was time to get the Hurricane attack moving by getting more from the engine room.

With the league’s top scorers watched closely the Hurricane switched from cruising speed to afterburners as shift times dropped to produce some high tempo energy with all three lines contributing.

Good puck support by Catherine Tufts allowed her to find Alex Mann (Catherine Tufts, J Messenger) who would dial one up from the point and fire a bullet to the back of the net. It was “game on” as the Hurricane could feel it and again it would be generated from the back end as Cole Mulrooney on a nice send found the stick of Morgan Messenger (Mulrooney) on the deflection to tie the game just three minutes later.

With momentum on the Hurricane side even the penalty kill saw Morgan Messenger (unassisted) turn over the puck and drive the net like nobody’s business to lift fans from their seats as the Hurricane had new life and the lead off a shorthanded effort.

The Hurricane added another at about the two minute mark as Josh Shatford (M Messenger, Jollimore) received a pass in full flight at the blue line and drove wide and hard to the net letting a quick shot fire just before the angle was closed off to beat the Valley keeper. The Valley would not go quietly though as Blanchard (Janes, McKie) would get one late.

In the third period the Hurricane would dominate, outshooting the Valley 21-3 for a game total of 33-12. The Hurricane continue to reduce their magic number as the schedule starts to wind down. Make the final Hurricane 4 – Wildcats 3 in a dog fight in Barrington.