Alessio Cusano
The North Vancouver Wolf Pack got back in the win column after a hard–fought 5-3 win over the Surrey Knights on Saturday night. It was a hot start to the game for the Wolf Pack. As usual, they wanted to get one early for the home fans.
Surrey opened the scoring just under four minutes in. Corson Penman got it right back two minutes later to level it at one. It was a game of back and forth in chances for the next little while.
The Wolf Pack got on the power play with six minutes to go in the first and had some exciting chances but couldn’t find the back of the net. The Wolf Pack were the more dominant team after a fast–moving first period.
Early pressure to start the second from North Van. The tie was finally broken thanks to a power play goal from the “Real Deal” Matthew Carniel just under four minutes in the second frame. It was a goal that had been coming by a player who deserved it in Carniel.
Surrey leveled the game with a goal at the six–minute mark of the second. Shortly after, the Wolf Pack were back on the hunt for a third goal and created chances that had the home crowd fired up. The Wolf Pack took the lead back after a breakaway goal from Rylan Oatman off a beautiful long–range pass from Carniel; however, the goal did not stand. That marker was called back due to the play being offside. A very exciting second frame ended 2-2 with the Wolf Pack again dominating the shots on goal tally.
Like the first two periods, the home team started the third hungry for a goal. Cameron Moore finally gave the Wolf Pack that third goal to take the lead early in the third.
The Knights tied it right at the start of their double minor powerplay to tie it up again and make it 3-3. Wolf Pack goalie Brayden Burrows made great saves on this penalty kill to keep the game tied.
The last five minutes had some of the most intense chances of the game. The biggest was a slapshot from the point from Caleb Cruz, who put the boys in white up yet again. Finally, to seal the game, who else but Matthew Carniel will make it 5-3 with 1:30 to go in the third? His fifth game in a row with a goal. “It’s been pretty good recently, our whole line is playing well, and as of late, its been going in, so it feels good,” Carniel added postgame about how well he and his teammates have been playing recently
Saturday also marked the season’s halfway point, and Carniel shared how important the win was. “ It’s a long season, a lot of ups and downs; we all want to continue making our play a lot tighter and play hard every night,” Carniel added regarding what the team is doing to get to the top of the Tom Shaw Conference. Overall, it was an excellent night for the team to win at home.
The Wolf Pack will now hit the road for a game against Richmond before their next home game on Thursday, December 7th, against the White Rock Whalers.
