A thriller third period saw the Northern Capitals almost capped off a rare miracle Saturday afternoon (Jan. 18) against one of the best teams in Canada.
Game Two of the BC Winter Classic series against the Comets ended in a 5-4 final for the visitors from Greater Vancouver, but the Caps outscored them 2-1 in the final frame and potted the puck one second after the clock ran out depriving them of a potential overtime period.
The Prince George-based team falls 0-2 in the three-game series this weekend in northwest B.C., but there were some upsides in the setback.
.@NCapitalsfmaaa were down 5-2 in the 3rd period & nearly came all the way back, but the buzzer sounded on a very close 5-4 final in favour of the Greater Vancouver Comets 😖 #BCWinterClassic series ends outside tomorrow (Jan. 19) | #CityOfPG #FortStJames @PGMatters pic.twitter.com/gbAbrpYPrg
— Kyle Balzer (@KyleBalzer) January 19, 2020
Hailey Armstrong scored the game’s first goal 2:02 into the game at Fort Forum Arena, the assist to Nancy Moore, marking the second time this season her team has scored the opener against the Comets.
Greater Vancouver, however, quickly came back with two goals in 24 seconds for the 2-1 lead and then upped the advantage to 3-1 with 2:10 left in the frame.
Samantha Wiley’s second goal of the 2019-20 campaign cut the deficit to one early in the middle stanza with the lone helper to Ella Boon.
The Northern Capitals were able to keep up until the Comets pulled ahead 4-2 while on a power-play until the next intermission.
Caps found themselves in the three-goal hole 3:11 into the third period at 5-2, but that only sparked a fire.
Within the final four minutes of regulation, the Caps potted two key goals, one by affiliate player Taylor Catcher, her first in female midget AAA action and assists from Destiny Bautista and Brooklyn Hutchings.
After getting knocked in the head in the middle of the second period, Kiera Mulder was able to recover and get back on the ice.
The 16-year-old got the ladies to within one with her first goal of the year with 1:56 to go; assists came from Captain Paige Outhouse and Ocean Andersen.
The comeback, unfortunately, fell short by a single click on the clock as the buzzer sounded and the Greater Vancouver Comets nabbing the first of two contest in Fort St. James.
Goaltender Cadence Petiticlerc-Crosby was credited with the loss in her 13th start of the season.
The Northern Capitals will now host the first-ever outdoor female midget AAA hockey game tomorrow morning (Jan. 19), 9 a.m. against the Comets at Ernie Sam Memorial Arena.
That dreaded buzzer 🙈 @NCapitalsfmaaa almost forced OT against the Greater Vancouver Comets & eventually fell 5-4. A puck was put in 1 second after the horn went off, stopping the comeback in #FortStJames 🥅 | #CityOfPG #BCWinterClassic @PGMatters pic.twitter.com/3QcnIGxGnv
— Kyle Balzer (@KyleBalzer) January 19, 2020
