Virden shutout Neepawa

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Virden shutout Neepawa

Details: Published on Friday, October 7, 2016

Neepawa’s Jordan Martin (27) attempts to work the puck out from behind the Virden net, during the Natives showdown with the Oil Cap’s on Thursday, Oct. 6

By Eoin Devereux

The Neepawa Press/Neepawa Banner

The Neepawa Natives outshot, outskated and generally outplayed the Virden Oil Capitals at Tundra Oil & Gas Place on Thursday, Oct.6. Despite that exceptional effort, Neepawa still found itself on the wrong end of a 1-0 result. Nobody ever said life was fair, neither is hockey.

The game was the second in as many nights for the Natives, having come off a 4-2 win in Dauphin on Wednesday. Any fear of Neepawa being tired from the previous evening’s physical encounter was quickly set aside, as the team put in a strong 60 minutes of play, including a fast-paced third period, where they outshot Virden 14-4. The lone goal of the game was secured in the second, by 20-year-old Mack Hardy from Winnipeg, on a power-play.

After the game, Neepawa head coach Dustin Howden noted that both teams play a very similar style of play, so they expected this would be a very tightly contested showdown.

“It really was a back and forth game. We play a similar type of game out there on the ice, so it really was a toss up as to who would win. Virden was able to take advantage on a power-play opportunity and that ended up being the deciding factor,” said Howden. “I can’t say anything bad about what we did out there [Oct. 6]. All you can do is ask the players to leave it all out there on the ice and that’s exactly what they did. Most nights, that type of play gets you the win. Tonight was not one of those nights.”

Tyler Gutenberg made 25 saves for Neepawa during the game, while Oil Caps goaltender Patrick Zubick picked up the win and the shutout, with a 36 save effort. Neepawa returns to the ice on Saturday, Oct. 8 in Steinbach against the Pistons. The very next night, on Sunday, Oct. 9, the Natives return home to the Yellowhead Centre to face the Waywayseecappo Wolverines. Game time is set for 6:30 pm.