Natives playoff hopes take a hit in Winnipeg
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- Published on Thursday, January 22, 2015
Photo courtesy of Alan Gillies, G.E.M. Media
By Eoin Devereux
The Neepawa Banner
The Neepawa Natives are playing some of their strongest, most consistent hockey of the season right now and are doing so against the best teams in the MJHL. Unfortunately, no rewards are coming from that valiant effort as they continue to lose those games, the most recent a 5-3 defeat to the Winnipeg Blues.
The game, held at the MTS Iceplex in Winnipeg, started off badly for Neepawa, as the Blues jumped out to an early 2-0 lead. Winnipeg forward Liam Bilton scored the first goal of the evening just 1:06 into the opening period. Gianlucc Esteves doubled the lead just over five minutes later.
Neepawa continued to attack however and that hard work payed off with 5:45 remaining in the first, as Drake Lindsay scored a power play goal. Riley Hillis and Steven Phillips assisted on the first of the evening for the Natives.
The Winnipeg Blues reclaimed their two goal buffer early in the second with a power play marker just 1:13 into the period from Brett Brooks. Eventually Neepawa was able to bounce back, when Stephen Mather scored with just under five minutes remaining in the period. That was quickly followed up by a power play goal from Rilley Hillis at 17:16, to make the score 3-3 after 40 minutes. Over the two periods, the shot totals remained close, with 28 for Winnipeg and 21 for Neepawa.
The Blues were able to take control in the third period, pressing the attack in the Neepawa zone. That resiliency paid off in the form of a power play goal by Brett Brooks with 9:39 gone in the final frame. Less than a minute later, Winnipeg added its fifth of the evening, with a goal from Kamerin Nault. The Blues were able to outshoot Neepawa 11-4 in the last 20 minutes on the way to the victory.
This most recent defeat is the fifth in a row for Neepawa, after a closely contested 3-1 loss on Sunday, Jan. 18, against the Selkirk Steelers and a 5-3 defeat to the Winnipeg Blues on Saturday, Jan.19, at the Yellowhead Centre.
As of Jan. 21, Neepawa was eleven points out of the tenth and final playoff spot.
Neepawa has an extended break in the schedule, as its next game is set for Wednesday, Jan. 28, at the Yellowhead Centre against the Steinbach Pistons.
