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2/1/07-Hockey
Eaglets drop fifth game decided by just one goal
By KELLY McDONALD Of The Oakland Press
ORCHARD LAKE--Playing in close games isn't the problem. Winning those close games is.
Five of Orchard Lake St. Mary's seven losses have been by one goal including a 2-1 overtime loss to visiting Warren De La Salle Wednesday night.
St. Mary's (8-7-5) outshot, outskated and outplayed De La Salle for 40 minutes. Too bad a high school hockey game lasts 45 minutes. It was a matchup of the No. 5 ranked team in Division I, St. Mary's, against the No. 3 ranked team in Division II, De La Salle.
"We played two good periods tonight. I thought we outplayed them for 40 minutes," St. Mary's coach Brian Klanow said. "We're having a lot of trouble putting the puck in the net."
The Eaglets didn't have any trouble getting shots off. St. Mary's bombarded De La Salle goaltender Josh Lavigne with 36 shots on goal including a 14-4 advantage in the scoreless first period. The Pilots could only muster 20 shots on goal in the game.
But a failure to clear the puck out of the zone resulted in the game winner by De La Salle senior forward Zach Jakubik.
"When we have a breakdown, it's severe. Their overtime goal all started when we didn't get the puck into the offensive zone," Klanow said. "It's stuff we teach everyday. We're making mental mistakes."
The Pilots were able to hold the puck in its offensive zone despite St. Mary's gaining control. Junior Brian Jacobs poked the puck away and pushed it to the corner. After a battle in the corner, senior forward Robert Faria was able to find Jakubik on the right wing. Jakubik was able to beat St. Mary's goaltender Joe Savona glove side.
"Physical mistakes I can understand, mental mistakes I can't," Klanow said about his team's failure to clear the puck.
St. Mary's controlled the puck in its offensive zone for almost three minutes at the 9:03 mark of the third period. Mac Watts' shot from the point was deflected in front by Tim Hooker but Lavigne was able to track it and push the puck away.
A potential St. Mary's 3-on-2 break was negated by an offsides call but the Eaglets controlled the face off and worked it back into De La Salle's zone.
"Orchard Lake (St. Mary's) is always a fast skating team. They're always going to get the breaks," De La Salle coach Dan Berry said. "We're playing banged up. We have four of our top guys out of the lineup. The guys that don't get that much ice time have been playing their butts off the last two weeks. They're doing the little things."
St. Mary's sophomore forward Shane Halaas, working in the corner, got the puck out front to Brandon Kozlowski. Kozlowski found the back of the net to tie the game with 6:24 left in the third period.
"We spent most of the time in their end. We're putting a lot of offense at them," Klanow said. "But on the defensive side, we make dumb mental mistakes."
Charlie Semaan and Jon Falvo teamed up for a couple of chances with under a minute to play. Then Billy Balent skated the length of the ice with 18 seconds remaining, outskating two De La Salle defenders, and got the shot off. Lavigne's save forced the 8 minute sudden death overtime.
"We're in every game. One of these days we're going to get some breaks and the puck is going to drop for us," Klanow said. "We hit the post in the third period three times."
Steve Tallman's shot with 13:03 remaining hit the post and Kasper Bryniczka's wrap-around attempt also came close. A 2-on-1 break with Tallman and Balent was a great scoring opportunity as well as Watts' shot from the point which was deflected in front by Hooker. All four attempts either hit the post or came within inches of the post.
"They get the good shots. But our goaltender stood on his head tonight. He made some good saves," Barry said.
The Pilots' first goal came after senior forward Ryan Jones forced an Eaglet giveaway at center ice and created a breakaway chance for himself. Savona made the save.
After a scurry in front of the net, Aaron Strachan fired a shot from the point. Dexter Jacques gathered the rebound and his slap shot gave the Pilots the 1-0 advantage at the 7:12 mark of the second period. Senior forward Cory Reno also recorded an assist on that goal. De La Salle improves to 16-2 overall.
"It's a game of mistakes and whoever make the least amount wins," Klanow said.
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