The focus coming into Monday night’s game against the Peninsula Panthers was discipline.
Storm Head Coach Lee Stone wasn’t very happy with the penalties his team took on Saturday afternoon in their 8-4 win.
“We have to play more disciplined, we deserved most of what we got the other day; we did some stupid things on the ice,” he said.
The message was clearly received Monday night. The Storm defended perfectly the scant three power plays they gave up and went 4 for 10 when Peninsula went to the box. By the end of the night, they owned their 9-1 victory and 3-0 series lead.
The first half of the game belonged to big Max Daerendinger who had a stellar night before heading to the dressing room after 40 for what Stone referred to as a “mid-body injury.” Daerendinger scored once and added three helpers; he was full value for his first star honours.
In 35 regular season games, Logan Cursley scored two goals. In three playoff games, the ’99 defenceman from Courtenay has four goals.
Stone said reflecting upon Cursley’s night, “There wasn’t a guy on the team that wasn’t thrilled to see Logan score a hat trick goal. The reason why we scored that hat trick goal is that after Suthy got hit, the boys went to the power play and that’s the best way to get back at a team for throwing a hit like that.”
Spencer Deakin was again solid in the Storm net turning aside 24 of 25 shots. The North Island Silvertip Major Midget player has replaced the injured Chris Smith and Chase Anderson. The Storm have also brought in Mission City netminder Matthew Trulsen on an emergency basis after the Outlaws were eliminated in the PJHL postseason.
In addition to goals from Daerendinger (1) and Cursley (3), Kobe Oishi found the net twice while Dawson Frank, AP Justin Fodchuk and Dylan McCann accounted for singles.
Stone was pleased with his squad’s effort, “We scored goals the way you want to in the playoffs, just good hardworking goals where you’re getting to the net. The coaching staff was very impressed.”
The Storm can wrap up the round one series tonight at Rod Brind’Amour Arena.
