Strong Thirds Keeps Lakers In The Thick Of The Playoff Run

Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Lakers Instagram page. 

By Gary Groob 

The Cobourg Kodiaks (9-8) faced the Peterborough Lakers (8-7) in a pivotal game for the Major Series Lacrosse playoffs Thursday night at the Memorial Centre in Peterborough, Ontario. 

The goaltending match-up had Laine Hruska in net for Cobourg facing Drew Hutchison in net for the Lakers. 

The Peterborough Lakers strengthened their playoff position Thursday night with an impressive 8-4 victory over the Cobourg Kodiaks at the Memorial Centre. After Cobourg twice battled back to within a goal through Alex Marinier's two-goal effort and Zach Thompson's marker, the Lakers responded every time, taking a 4-3 lead into the second intermission before breaking the game open in the third period.

Colton Armitage led the Peterborough attack with a hat trick, while Thomas Hoggarth added a pair of goals. Holden Cattoni contributed a goal and two assists, and Liam Patten and Colton Armstrong each scored shorthanded to highlight a dominant special teams performance. Drew Hutchison turned aside 49 shots in the Lakers' net as Peterborough outshot Cobourg 63-53, earning a pivotal victory that keeps them firmly in the Major Series Lacrosse playoff hunt.

To The Game:

After over half a period of end to end action Peterborough finally got on the board with Holden Cattoni blasting a Braedon Saris pass to the far corner at 11:28, followed by a shorthanded marker from Liam Patten grabbing a loose ball going coast to coast at 14:25.

Alex Marinier cut the lead in half on the power-play with a laser from the outside off a Brock Haley pass at 17:36, but the Lakers stormed back with Colton Armitage scoring from in close off a Robert Hope pass at 18:37.

After one period, Peterborough 3 Cobourg 1.
Shots on goal favored the Lakers 27-21.

Second Period:

The Kodiaks opened the second period scoring with Alex  Marinier scoring his second of the game off a Brock Haley feed at 3:18, but on the power-play Peterborough regained the two goal cushion when Thomas Hoggarth fired a low to low laser from the top of the crease off a Holden Cattoni pass at 11:47.

Cobourg again brought the game within one with Zach Thompson converting a Shane Halliwell pass at 14:13.

After two periods, Peterborough 4 Cobourg 3.
Shots on goal favored the Lakers 20-17.

Third Period:

Peterborough opened the third period scoring with a sidearm snipe from Colton Armitage off a Rob Hellyer feed at 39 seconds, followed by a power-play marker from Thomas Hoggarth at the top of the crease off a Ryan Lanchbury pass at 3:06.

The Lakers continued the push with a shorthanded tally from Colton Armstrong off a Brad McCulley feed in transition at 3:58, followed by a great individual effort from Colton Armitage streaking in front off a Thomas Hoggarth pass at 9:59.

Jason Knox scored late for the Kodiaks on the power-play at 19:28, but it was too little too late. 

Final score, Peterborough 8 Cobourg 4.
Shots on goal favored the Lakers 16-15, for a game total of 63-53 in favor of Peterborough. 

The Three Stars:

1. Colton Armitage 
2. Drew Hutchison 
3. Laine Hruska 

You can watch every minute of MSL action on FloLive - https://flosports.link/MSL