Griffins score at will, hammer visiting Clippers 9-0
Zachary Dean / For MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON - The MacEwan Griffins men's hockey team put on a dominant performance Friday night at the Downtown Community Arena, crushing the Briercrest Clippers 9-0, amidst outshooting them 59-27.
A couple of early power play goals took the wind out of the Clippers' sails and it was all Griffins the rest of the way.
MacEwan was relentless on the attack all game, controlling the puck behind then net, winning the majority of the battles, and feeding the slot at will.
"We've been working on trying to get a guy to a good spot early, as soon as the rush is done, and because he's (in the slot) and set, it allows you to have more opportunities," said Griffins head coach Bram Stephen.
Rookie forward Nakehko Lamothe led the way with a goal and three assists.
"He's got offensive skill and we've known that all along. He doesn't put much up on the score board yet, but you can see it in games," said Stephen. "I'm really proud of him and happy he had the night he had."
Lamothe's goal was also his first of the season.
"My linemate (Dallas Smith) was behind the net and I think he tried to bank it off the back of the goalie, but it just ended up coming out to me. The goalie was pretty far, out of the net and I just put it into the empty net," said Lamothe.
Lamothe received plenty of help as well. Eight different Griffins found the back of the net, including Smith scoring twice for the second-straight game. Seven players had multiple points, including Shawn Proulx, who potted two assists on the night he set a new mark for Griffins' career games played with his 134th.
On a night he didn't need to be, Marc-Olivier Daigle was perfect. The Griffins goaltender stopped all 27 shots that came his way for his second-consecutive shutout.
"Both nights in the shutouts, he's made show stopping saves" said Stephen. "He's tracking the puck really well. He's been really good."
Clippers captain Jacob Baribeau was one of the few bright spots for B.C. The team's co-leading goal scorer finished the night with eight shots on goal, many of them high quality chances. Daigle robbed Baribeau with a pad save on a cross crease pass while at 5 on 3.
MacEwan opened the scoring just 28 seconds into the game with a power play goal when Jacob Schofield found Ryan Benn in the slot and he rifled the puck with a one-timer.
"When you're at home and able to score early like that, it definitely helps mentalty," said Stephen.
With less than two minutes remaining in the first period, a Griffins player was hit from behind into the boards. MacEwan's players yelled for a penalty but did not receive one. The non-call would work in their favour when just a few seconds later Clayton Petrie's initial shot was stopped by Clippers goalie, Dan Dekoning, and Schofield chopped the puck into the net as it sat in the crease.
Mid-way through the second period, Dekoning was replaced by Christian Mueller in net after giving up five goals on 29 shots.
It wouldn't get any easier for Mueller. Though he made multiple big saves, the Griffins continued to press in the third and scored four goals on 30 shots. Smith with two, Daniel Wray Petrie each scored for MacEwan in the final frame.
With the win, MacEwan improves to 14-4-1 and continue to nip at the heels of SAIT for top of the division, now just a point back.
Briercrest falls to 2-14-3 and their losing streak is now at eight in a row.
The teams meet again on Saturday (1 p.m., DCA).