The Lacombe Generals are not used to being shutout.
After being blanked by Stony Plain Eagles in Game 2 of their Allan Cup Hockey West first-round series — Lacombe was looking to get back to their usual winning ways and light the lamp on home ice in Game 3 at the Gary Moe Auto Group Sportsplex.
Luckily, everything went according to the gameplan in the first period — with the Generals putting pressure on the Eagle defence by scoring three goals in the frame.
Levi Nelson kicked off the scoring for Generals after a non-call on forward Kyle Stroh led to Nelson picking up the rebound and shelving the shot to put his team up 1-0.
Dylan Nowakowski would follow that up with a nifty goal of his own to put his team up 2-0 and Jesse Todd would finish a late-period two-on-one break to cap off the period scoring.
The Generals were looking to maintain or add to the lead heading into the second period.
The Generals managed to stay the course despite consistent pressure from the Eagles in the second. The Generals managed to weather two Stony Plain powerplays and also an apparent lower-body injury to ACHW second leading scorer Jesse Todd to keep the lead at 3-0 heading into the third period.
The Generals would manage to add to their lead in the third period when Kyle Stroh banged home a one-timer on the powerplay to finish the game at 4-0.
The last five minutes featured a parade to the penalty box, culminating in a questionable Eagle hit on Levi Nelson that led to captain Brennan Evans being ejected for fighting.
Despite the rough stuff, Weiman would hang on for the shutout — stopping 42 shots for the victory.
“It is a bounce-back win from the last game,” Weiman said. “It was almost the same thing they did to us in their home rink. We have to control home ice.”
Weiman said it has been an easy transition with the Generals.
“When you are surrounded by good players and good coaches, you are bound to suceed. They make it easy for me. I am still trying to get my feet wet and tonight was the most comfortable I have felt,” he said.
Robertson said it was good to get some confidence back.
“We needed
The Generals head to Stony Plain in a quick back-to-back tomorrow night for Game 4. If the Generals lose, Game 5 will be in Lacombe on Sunday at 6 p.m. for the deciding game.
“We have to stay out of the box because they get a lot of momentum off that. If we can stay diciplined and keep moving our feet, I think we will be alright,” Weiman said.
todd.vaughan@lacombeexpress.com
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