The Kingston Ice Wolves used a pair of power-play goals and a stellar defensive effort to hold off a persistent Stoney Creek Sabres squad, securing a narrow 3-2 victory on the road. The game was a tight-checking affair from the start, with Kingston striking first midway through the opening period. Jocelyn Osborn put the Ice Wolves on the board with an even-strength marker at 9:25. The Sabres found themselves in penalty trouble late in the period, and Kingston's power play capitalized with just 17 seconds remaining, as Ashlea Whyte buried her first of the night with helpers from Cora Galliah and Kaylynn Fisher, giving the visitors a 2-0 lead heading into the intermission.
Stoney Creek came out with renewed energy in the second period, finally solving Kingston goaltender Lilyana Reid. Aubrey Morrison got the Sabres on the board at 17:26, cutting the deficit in half with assists from Olivia VanSickle and Sadie Allen. The Sabres carried the play for much of the period, outshooting Kingston 11-5, but couldn't find the equalizer. The Ice Wolves restored their two-goal cushion in the third on another power-play opportunity. Whyte struck again for Kingston at 5:45, netting her second of the game from Ava Vrana and Claire Chambers to make it 3-1. Stoney Creek's Makenna Vinc took a costly double-minor for head contact shortly after, but the Sabres' penalty kill held firm. Pulling their goalie late, the Sabres made it interesting when Claire Sanford scored with just 2:28 remaining, assisted again by the playmaking Sadie Allen, to bring the score to 3-2. Despite a final flurry and a 13-9 shot advantage in the third, Stoney Creek couldn't complete the comeback.
The game was a story of special teams and goaltending. Kingston's power play went 2-for-4, providing the critical difference, while the Sabres were unable to convert on their four opportunities. In a game where detailed goalie stats were not tracked, the shot totals tell the tale of a busy night for Kingston's Lilyana Reid, who faced 35 shots overall and was credited with the win. Stoney Creek's Machala Musty was under siege at times, facing 22 shots against a disciplined Kingston attack. The Sabres' late push showcased their resilience, led by multi-point efforts from Sadie Allen and the goal-scoring of Morrison and Sanford, but the early deficit and Kingston's clutch scoring proved too much to overcome.
Mississauga Hurricanes #5875