Mac Olsen
Express Staff
The Falher Pirates were in desperate straits last week, as the Spirit River Rangers were on a roll with two wins in their best-of-seven playoff series.
The series began on Feb. 13, when the Pirates travelled to Spirit River and the Rangers won the game 6-3.
The Pirates hosted the Rangers for their next game on Feb. 16. It was another defeat for the Pirates as the Rangers won 7-2. Coach Shawn Gervais tipped his hat to the Rangers.
“They came to play and obviously we didn’t,” says Gervais. “It was a tough go. They’ve got a good team, you can’t take anything away from them. You’ve got to come and play every single shift or else they make you pay big time.”
Nick Deslongchamp was in net for the Pirates in the first period. The Rangers managed to get the puck passed him five times.
J.M. Saint-Pierre scored three times for the Rangers, including a power play goal. Riley Boomgaarden scored the other two goals in the first period. It was 5-0 for the Rangers at the end of the first period.
Deslongchamp was pulled and Dave Gingera took his place for the rest of the game.
Paul Larocque scored the Rangers’ sixth goal at 5:58, with Riley Jebb and Cordell Shmyr receiving the assists.
Then Cedric Harvey put the Pirates on the board at 9:34, scoring a power play goal. Morgan Maclean and Neil Maisonneuve received the assists. Check the Smoky River Express’ Facebook page for a video clip of the goal.
But the Rangers had the last word, as Saint-Pierre scored his fourth goal at 16:39. The Rangers were leading 6-1 at the end of the second period.
The Pirates managed one last goal in the third period. Sam Sanford scored at 5:19, with Jason Bouchard and Al Anderson receiving the assists.
Nonetheless, the Rangers handed the Pirates their second defeat by winning the game 7-2. Shots on goal for the game were 39-18 in favour of the Rangers.
Please check the Express’ website, www.smokyriverexpress.com, for more action photos of the game.
Games three and four
The Pirates travelled to Spirit River on Feb. 18 for game three.. The Rangers came to Falher on Feb. 20 for game four. Watch for a story in the March 2 edition.