In the first nine periods of their Western Ontario Hockey League quarter-final series, St. Marys Lincolns won six of them and tied another.
It’s the two periods they lost that proved to be very costly.
Following weekend action, St. Thomas Stars owned a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven set after staging comebacks in the third period of both Games 2 and 3.
On Sunday night at the Pyramid Recreation Centre, veteran Chad Barclay’s goal with just 2:05 to play broke a 3-3 tie and gave Stars a 4-3 victory in front of about 550 fans.
For the Stars, who trailed 2-1 going into the final 20 minutes, it was their first win on St. Marys ice this season. As well, it was only the fourth loss at home for the Lincs in 2007-08.
Lincolns’ bench boss Merlin Malinowski was a concerned coach following Sunday’s game.
“We can’t finish St. Thomas off in the first 40 minutes,” Malinowski lamented. “They’re doing what they have to do. They’re hanging around and we’re not putting them away when we have our chances. We put a couple off the post and off the crossbar, but they’re not going in for us.
“St. Thomas is keeping it close, and giving themselves a chance, and they’ve
capitalized in the last two games. That’s how you play when you’re kind of
an underdog in a series. But that is rapidly changing. I guess we’re the
underdogs now.”
Stars rally in third period Saturday
In a feisty Game 2 Saturday night in St. Thomas, Stars scored four
unanswered third-period goals to erase a 4-1 deficit and beat the Lincolns
5-4 in front of about 475 fans.
Chris Rocca fired the winner, snapping a 4-4 tie with just 1:27 to play.
“We didn’t come out in the third period and put it away the way we needed
to,” coach Malinowski said. “That was disappointing.
“I just wish we had a little more fire coming out in the third period. It
was very noticeable that we weren’t getting our noses dirty and not being
aggressive the way we were in the first 40 minutes.”
At the final buzzer, four fighting majors were assessed. Brenton Kemp, of
St. Marys, and Janson Broome, of St. Thomas, each received two-game
suspensions for second fights on the same stoppage.
Rocca was also slapped with a two-game suspension for leaving the bench, and
Stars’ bench boss Pat Powers received an automatic two-game suspension as
well.
Veterans lead comeback charge
In the series opener last Thursday at the Pyramid Centre, over 600 fans
watched the Lincolns’ veterans lead the comeback charge in a 4-1 St. Marys
win.
First star Greg Noyes, Mike Gillen, Scott Mezenberg and Tyson DeJong picked
up two points apiece as Lincs battled back from an early 1-0 deficit.
The veteran line of Mezenberg, DeJong and centre Dan Ryan—dubbed ‘The Legion
of Doom’—each contributed a goal.
“We stuck to the program and waited for St. Thomas to make a mistake and
hopefully capitalize,” Malinowski said. “A good example was when Tyson
(DeJong) got that chance and scored the fourth goal on that (Stars’)
giveaway.”
Upcoming games: Last night (Feb. 26), Lincolns were hoping to end a
four-game drought with their first win on St. Thomas ice this season.
Game 5 goes this Friday, Feb. 29 in St. Marys, starting at 7:45 p.m. If
necessary, Game 6 is Sunday, March 2 in St. Thomas at 7 p.m.
If the series goes the limit, Game 7 will be played Monday, March 3 at the
Pyramid Centre at 7:45 p.m.

STARS 4 - LINCOLNS 3
(Sunday, Feb. 24 in St. Marys)
The game: Lincolns jumped out to a 2-0 first-period lead, but Stars chipped
away and kept within striking distance.
The visitors scored on a breakaway late in the second period, and then
grabbed the lead with two goals—before the final frame was six minutes old.
Lincs’ centre Jamie Nelson tied it 3-3 with just under 12 minutes to play.
The game winner came after the puck took a funny bounce off the end boards,
and Chad Barclay--waiting at the side of the net--banked it in off goalie
Kyle Brodhagen.
Lincolns pulled Brodhagen for an extra attacker with over a minute to play,
but couldn’t push the game into overtime.
“We’re behind the eight-ball now, with the next game in St. Thomas (last
night, Feb. 26),” Merlin Malinowski said. “But we figured we could win one
in their building, and we have to win the next one now.”
Period scores: Lincs led 2-0 after the first period; 2-1 after 40 minutes.
Goal scorers: Brandon Happeney scored twice for St. Thomas, including one on
a powerplay, while the singles went to Matt Cassidy and Barclay.
Tyson DeJong, Greg Noyes (powerplay) and Jamie Nelson replied for St. Marys.
Defenceman Mike Gillen contributed two assists.
Penalty picture: Stars—the most penalized team in the league—took 32 of the
46 minutes in the sin bin.
Shots on net: Overall, St. Marys out-shot St. Thomas 40-39. Stars’ big
netminder Chris Abbey was named a deserving third star.

STARS 5 - LINCOLNS 4
(Saturday, Feb. 23 in St. Thomas)
The game: Lincolns built a 4-1 lead by the midway mark of the second period,
and carried their three-goal advantage into the final 20 minutes.
Former Lincoln Joe Van Quaethem got Stars’ comeback started at 3:56 of the
third. St. Thomas then tied it with two powerplay goals, less than two
minutes apart, midway through the period—setting the stage for Chris Rocca’s
late winner.
“It was tough one,” coach Malinowski said. “I can’t really put my finger on
it. It was just one of those nights. It wasn’t to be, I guess.
“We started the third with a 5-on-3 powerplay, and didn’t do anything with
it. And then we took a couple of penalties, and they scored on them to tie
it.”
Period scores: Lincs led 2-0 after the first period; 4-1 after 40 minutes.
Goal scorers: Nate Geerlinks scored twice for St. Thomas, with Josh Brohman
collecting a goal and three assists. The other singles came off the sticks
of former Lincoln Joe Van Quaethem and Rocca.
Tyson DeJong, Mike Noyes (powerplay), Greg Noyes (powerplay) and Brenton
Kemp scored for St. Marys. Greg Noyes also earned two assists for a
three-point night.
Aaron Whitcomb was the playmaker with three assists.
Penalty picture: There were 37 penalties called, and Stars took 42 of the 78
minutes in the sin bin.
At the final buzzer, there were two fights, and two-game suspensions were
handed out to three players.
Shots on net: Overall, Lincolns out-shot St. Thomas 43-32, including 16-10
in the first period.

LINCOLNS 4 - STARS 1
(Thursday, Feb. 21 in St. Marys)
The game: Stars opened the scoring, but Lincolns erased the early deficit
with powerplay goals by Greg Noyes and Dan Ryan late in the first period.
Coach Malinowski said Lincs didn’t get rattled after giving up the early St.
Thomas goal at the 2:07 mark.
“I liked the way we were playing,” he noted. “I just felt if we continued to
play well, and not resort to playing as individuals, and if we stayed
together as a team, that we’d be okay. And it proved to be right.”
After a scoreless middle frame, Stars came out early in the third period
looking for the equalizer. However, goals by Scott Mezenberg and Tyson
DeJong—just 46 seconds apart—put out the St. Thomas fire and clinched the
opener for St. Marys.
Period scores: Lincs led 2-1 after the first period; 2-1 after 40 minutes.
Goal scorers: Greg Noyes, Dan Ryan, Scott Mezenberg and Tyson DeJong scored
for St. Marys, with defenceman Mike Gillen chipping in two assists.
Chris Rocca replied for St. Thomas.
Lincolns’ powerplay connects: Lincs’ powerplay—which clicked for 70 goals in
the regular season—made Stars pay late in the first period. The two
man-advantage goals gave Lincolns a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
“St. Thomas is playing with fire by taking penalties against us,” assistant
Paul Petrie remarked.
Penalty picture: Stars took seven of the 13 minor penalties in a rather tame
affair. Lincs went 2-for-6 on the powerplay.
Shots on net: Both sides had 41 shots on net. Lincolns’ goalie Kyle
Brodhagen, selected second star, and St. Thomas netminder Chris Abbey both
played well.