The Stoney Creek Sabres used a potent power play to secure a 4-2 road victory over the Burlington Barracudas in a hard-fought U22 Elite matchup. The game was a tale of two periods, with the Sabres dominating the first and the Barracudas mounting a fierce comeback in the second, before special teams ultimately decided the contest.
The Sabres set the tone early, outshooting Burlington 14-4 in the opening frame. Despite falling behind to an early goal from the Barracudas' Addyson Lee, assisted by Keelin Song and Elleh Frigui, Stoney Creek quickly responded. On their first power play, Makenna Vinc, with helpers from Claire Sanford and Nicole Spencer, tied the game. The period ended with Burlington's Caileigh Tiller taking two minor penalties, setting the stage for more Sabres' power-play success. They capitalized just 59 seconds into the second period when Alyssa Pescetti, assisted by Mikayla Barnes and Adison White, gave Stoney Creek the lead. The Barracuds, however, refused to fold. They turned the tables with a massive 17-6 shot advantage in the middle period, and Hayley Thompson found the back of the net to knot the score at 2-2 heading into the final frame.
The third period saw the game's pivotal moment. With Burlington's Lauren Kruzel in the box for hooking, the Sabres' lethal power play struck for the third time. Mikayla Barnes buried the game-winner, with Adison White and Aubrey Morrison picking up the assists. The Barracudas' frustration showed as they took an unsportmanlike conduct penalty, and any hope of a late rally was extinguished when Claire Sanford added an even-strength insurance marker for Stoney Creek, assisted by Clara Stanley and Ashley Austin. While Burlington's goalie Riley Manna faced a barrage of 51 shots, the Sabres' Grace Kipfer was credited with the win in net. The story of the night was discipline, as Stoney Creek expertly converted three of their man-advantage opportunities to skate away with the two points.
Mississauga Hurricanes #5875