Plum Mustangs - 1989 A

**Special report to Pa Hockey provided by Canon-McMillan Hockey. CANONSBURG - The last time Canon-McMillan and West Allegheny faced each other, it was one of the most thrilling games of the season. The Big Macs were ranked #2 at the time, while the Indians weren't far behind at #3. That game, held on December 9th, lived up to all the hype as it featured 4 lead changes before Jesse Patnesky scored the game winner in overtime for Canon Mac. Because of those things, the rematch on Monday night certainly brought on plenty more hype. Moreover, these two teams have both moved up a notch in the rankings over the past 6 weeks, creating a #1 vs. #2 showdown on a night full of exciting AA games. Patnesky picked up where he left off in the last match-up by firing a wrist shot from the high slot past WA netminder Dan Kuzio on a power play. Doug Stanton assisted on the goal, which came at the 10:42 mark. West Allegheny's Marek Polidor had an answer to that goal when streaked down the left wing and tucked a shot in on the short side just 24 seconds later. Tony Lutz and Mason Fisher picked up assists, and it appeared this game was going to be another seesaw affair. The tie stayed in place for the next 8 minutes, but it wasn't because the offenses went dormant. Canon-McMillan put forth a furious attack on the West A net, firing 20 shots on goal in the first period. Kuzio was up to the challenge, though, making save after save to keep the score even. It was West Allegheny that broke the deadlock on just their 6th shot of the period. Steve Sarachine was the goal scorer on the power play with assists to Ryan Kumpfmiller and Polidor. With a 2-1 lead and only 1:47 left in the period, the Indians felt like they were about to escape the CM barrage and take control of the game. Patnesky had other thoughts, though, as Stanton hit him with a pass from the behind the net, and Patnesky stuffed it inside the left post with 18 seconds left in period number one. A power play for the Big Macs early in the 2nd period gave them an opportunity to continue their offensive showcase. However, Polidor won the defensive zone face-off to the stick of Mason Fisher, who wrapped the puck around the far boards to a streaking Ryne Savisky. Savisky muscled his way to the CM net and went to the backhand for a shorthanded goal at 13:16. The Canon Mac power play didn't let up, though, and Doug Stanton pulled the game even again a minute later off an assist from Patnesky. West A was called for a penalty after the goal was scored, but an interference call against CM nullified their man advantage. WA took their turn on the powerplay after the 4-on-4 ended, but Patnesky was determined to notch a shorthanded goal of his own. He collected the puck from his own end and fought through a check along the boards at the blue before dancing in and unleashing another wrist shot from the slot. The goal came unassisted and gave the Big Macs their 2nd lead of the night. Like their first lead, it wouldn't last long, though. Polidor again restored the tie with a power play tally 23 seconds later with a quick shot to the left corner from the low slot off an assist from Savisky. So despite having 2 leads and severely outshooting the Indians, the Big Macs were only ahead for a total of 47 seconds of action by the game's midpoint. The 4-4 tie would last the rest of the period after a few penalties led to a rare instance of 3-on-3 play. The lead had changed hands 5 times through the first 30 minutes of play, setting up what would be an electrifying third period. Canon-McMillan came out gunning again in the final period, looking more to increase its advantage on the scoreboard rather than the shot clock this time. A shot by CM sophomore Justin Cormack led to a wild scramble in front of Kuzio. Corey Griffith took a crack at a loose puck, and while the shot didn't immediately go in, it found the back of the net anyway off a West A defender. The Big Macs made sure their third lead lasted a little longer than the first two by scoring 28 seconds later. Kyle Harnen dished the puck to the red-hot Patnesky, who beat Kuzio again for his 4th goal of the night. For the first time in the game, a team held a 2-goal lead, but the offenses of both teams weren't about to let that stand. The goaltenders were, however, as Kuzio for WA and Drew Stanton for CM turned aside multiple shots each. Drew Stanton, who was battling a bad case of the flu, played his best hockey of the game at this point to frustrate the Indians. Canon Mac couldn't withstand the mounting pressure from West A for too long, though, and Ian Skacan set up Lutz at the 6:00 mark to pull the visitors back within 1 at 6-5. In a game full of quick, back-to-back goals, Canon-McMillan need only another 46 seconds to put the scoreboard operator to work. This time it was Doug Stanton notching his second goal of the contest to put the home team up by 2 once again. A slashing call on goaltender Drew Stanton gave West Allegheny a power play chance with just over 4 minutes to play. Stanton and the penalty killers held the Indians in check, though, and soon thereafter it was the Big Macs turn on the man advantage. Drew Stanton put his stick to use again, but this time it was a long, lead pass to Cormack, who drove to the net from the left circle and snapped home Canon Mac's 8th goal with 1:41 to go. West Allegheny refused to give up despite the 3-goal deficit, and with the goaltender pulled, a high wrist shot from the blue line found its way through a screen and just under the crossbar behind a blinded Drew Stanton. The Indians were back within 2 but there was only 52 seconds left to play. The Indians were able to manage one more shot on goal, their 14th shot of the third period, but it wasn't enough to change the score. The game ended with the #1 Big Macs still on top by a score of 8-6. Drew Stanton made 20 saves to pick up the win for Canon-McMillan, who improves to 15-0-1 on the year. Kuzio made an impressive 36 saves for West Allegheny, who suffers only their 3rd loss of the year. Montour is the only other team to have beaten the Indians this year, but West A still holds a 1-point advantage over the Spartans in the West Division. The Big Macs, meanwhile, hold first place in the South Division -- and all of AA -- by 7 points over Peter Township. Canon Mac will look to extend that lead Tuesday night when they travel to Johnstown to take on the home town Trojans at the War Memorial. The going doesn't get much easier for West Allegheny, though, since they face Peters Township on the road next Monday in a game that will likely be for the #2 ranking in AA.