Chris Clegg
South Peace News
Only one win separates the Falher Pirates from advancing to the NPHL semifinal against the Dawson Creek Canucks.
The Pirates defeated the hometown Fox Creek Knights 5-4 Feb. 15 to take a 3-1 lead in best-of-seven quarterfinal series. With the Canucks, Manning Comets and defending champion Spirit River Rangers all sweeping their series the same night, the winner of the Falher – Fox Creek series is locked in to play the Canucks while the Comets and Rangers will battle in the other semifinal series.
Pirates’ fans will look forward to the chance at some sweet revenge at the hands of the Canucks, who defeated Pirates in the 2022-23 NPHL final in seven games, the last three going to overtime including the Game 7 thriller which the Canucks won.
But first things first! The Pirates still have to deal with the Knights, who literally stole Game 3 with a 6-5 win at Falher on Feb. 13. The Pirates were ahead 5-2 in the third period before collapsing down the stretch, aided by three Knights’ power play goals in the final 3:21.
Taylor Cote, Trevor Tokarz and Pat Rowan all scored in the first 13 minutes to give the Pirates a 3-0 lead.
However, Alex Smith and Zac Mott replied to close the gap to 3-2 before the end of the period.
Matts Maisonneuve scored the lone goal of the second period to put the Pirates up 4-2 and Dallas Brochu’s early third period goal at 51 seconds made it 5-2 and it looked like the Pirates were home-free.
But queue the comeback! Stephane Legault scored at the 7:27 mark to make it 5-3 and the Pirates slammed the door shut until the final few minutes. Bailey Tokarz took an interference minor with 5:09 left, then Taylor Cote was assessed a check to the head major with 3:21 left in the game effectively giving the Knights the power play the rest of the game.
The Knights responded in a big way. Smith’s second of the night with 3:21 left made it 5-4 and it was game-on! Matters worsened when Cote took the major penalty. Ty Mappin tied the game with 51 seconds left and Smith’s third of the night just 32 seconds later and with only 19 seconds left gave the Knights the shocking win.
The Pirates had kept the Knights’ power in check before the late game shenanigans by blanking them on three chances. For the game, the Knights were 3-for-7 while the Pirates scored once on two chances, Rowan scoring the Pirates’ PP goal.
Such a shocking loss might have destroyed other club’s morale, but the Pirates rebounded nicely Feb. 15 to win 5-4 at Fox Creek to regain a stranglehold on the series.
Legault opened the scoring on – you guessed it! – a power play in the first minute. But Trevor Tokarz replied with power play goal for the Pirates to tie the game. Neil Maisonneuve scored before the end of the period to give the Pirates a 2-1 lead.
In the second period, Mike Bayrack tied the game in the second minute but the Pirates rallied on goals from Bailey Tokarz and Isaiah Letendre to take a 4-2 lead to the dressing room.
In the third period, Denis Rochon’s unassisted goal in the second minute proved to be the game-winner, not that the Knights did not make things interesting. Christian Kenny scored to make it 5-3, then Legault’s goal with 2:15 left made it 5-4, but there were no miracles left in the Knights’ arsenal this time and the Pirates left town with the win.
Statistically speaking, the Pirates have dominated the series. They have outscored Fox Creek 21-16, outshot them 165-138, and are 6-for-13 on the power play compared to Fox Creek’s 6-for-20.
Game 5 of the series was Monday, Feb. 17. Game 6 was slated for Fox Creek Feb. 19, and Game 7, if necessary, back in Falher Feb. 21.
The semifinal series are tentatively scheduled to begin Feb. 22. If the Pirates win, they will likely be at Dawson Creek that night but watch the Pirates Facebook page or South Peace News’ website for the schedule which will be posted when it becomes available.