Muskies double up 6-3 over 81’s

One game doesn't make a series but if the outcome of Saturday night's game in Shelburne is any indication, Palmerston can soon start booking spring vacations after the Muskies took game one of their WOAA Northern Division quarter - final; doubling up over the 81's by a final score of 6-3.

Having just wrapped up the regular season the weekend before against Palmerston as well, the Fish came into Saturday night’s contest well prepared for the 81's and it didn't take long for them to set tone for this game with Tristan Fairburn opening the scoring unassisted just over a minute into the game.

Chris Greer would add his first of the playoffs at the 12:13 mark, assisted by Jeff Bir and Luke Downey, before Palmerston capitalized on a tripping penalty to Derek Smith and scored on the power-play to make it 2- 1 heading into the first intermission.

Both teams would have their chances early in the second, but Shelburne turned it up just after the midway mark.

First it was Big Brad Horan firing his first of two home after taking a heads up pass from Fairburn behind the net to make it 3-1.

Next it was Fairburn taking a pass in behind the Palmerston defenders from Smith just inside the blueline, driving in alone and putting the moves on 81's goalie Scott Walls before snapping a shot into the top drawer.

Luke Downey added his second assist on the night making a nice pass from beside the net to Derrick Robson, who was cruising down into the slot and onetimed the shot home with 19 seconds left in the period to make it 5-1 for Shelburne.

Palmerston would show some signs of life early in the third, catching the Fish flat footed not once, but twice over a span of 15 seconds, to draw back within two but that was all the offence they could muster from that point forward.

Horan and Fairburn would team up once again with Horan tagging his second of the night with 7:03 left on the clock while Rob Senay closed and bolted the backdoor to give Shelburne game one of the best-of-five series by a final score of 6-3.

Muskies coach Joe Bakes admits the effort put forth by his team wasn't the greatest, but they did what they had to do and got the job done. "Our main goal tonight was to go out there and protect home ice and we did that". He was pleased with the play of a number of his players including Smith, Horan and Senay as well as that of Fairburn, who he says may just be a little guy but he can wangle and dangle" his way around the ice and make things happen out there.

Fairburn, for his part, deflects some of that praise back on to his linemates, in particular Horan who he says every goalie in the league knows is dangerous siting in front of their net.

Commenting on the play of Palmerston, the players all know the playoffs are just like another season and the 81's will be coming to play every game. "To win, we just have to stick to our game plan and just stay in the grove". While not going as far as predicting to sweep the series, he says instead of lacing the skates up for game four, it would really be nice to be able to "kick back on Sunday, put our feet up and watch the Super Bowl"

To do that, however, the Muskies will have to win both contests, first Friday in Palmerston and then again back at the CDRC at 8 p.m. Saturday night.

Barring that, it’s back to Palmerston Sunday at 6:30 and, if a fifth and final game is required, that would be played back in Shelburne at 8:45 Monday night.