Right to the Buzzer

Stingers Unable to Overcome 2 Goals in Third Period in 4-3 Defeat

SportsDavid Kelly — Published February 2, 2015 | Updated February 3, 2015 at 2:16am

“I think we played a pretty good second period,” said Stingers forward Antoine Houde-Caron. “We tried to come back at the end, but we didn’t have enough time.”

Just under two minutes into the second period, Francis Turbide’s point-shot deflected off of Houde-Caron’s leg and into the Ridgebacks’ net, bringing the game to a 1-1 tie.

“In the first, we knew that we didn’t play our best hockey and we knew that we were capable of much more,” Houde-Caron said. “We wanted to come back stronger in the second, and the goal kind of gave us momentum.”

Eighteen seconds after Mike Robinson scored to give the Ridgebacks the lead once more, Stingers forward Dany Potvin scored his 13th of the season to keep the Stingers from getting demoralized.

“One of our defensemen made a mistake on their goal and we told him that we’d get it back,” Potvin said. “I was pretty pumped, got a little excited, and scored a goal so I was pretty happy for me and for him too because it never feels good to make a mistake.”

Minutes later, Potvin was brought down on a breakaway and awarded a penalty shot, but was unsuccessful.

“[Billingham] told me that it was going in, and the goalie just barely kicked it out,” Potvin explained. “I saw the puck rolling and I got all excited, but it didn’t go in.”

Stingers head coach Kevin Figsby believes that goals like those scored by Houde-Caron and Potvin are “tremendously important” to the success of the team.

“[Houde-Caron] allowed us to bounce back and Potvin’s goal too,” Figsby said. “If you want to look back, the penalty shot could have made a difference in the game today too.”

The Stingers game plan was to get the most shots possible in order to optimize their scoring chances.

“I told the guys at the end of the second period at 2-2, we can win the shot clock today, we can win the third period, and we can win the game,” Figsby said. “We came close to that.”

Even with Matt Boudreau scoring late in the third period to bring the Stingers’ deficit to 4-3, they were unable to tie the game. As the final buzzer sounded, team captain Olivier Hinse found the back of the net, but the referee waved the goal off as the game had ended.

“We’re in the playoffs so it’s a nice experience to get ready for the playoffs,” Potvin said. “We played hard even if we have lots of injuries, and battling to the end is really important us.”

In coach Figsby’s eyes, the team played well considering the rough week that they had just battled through.

“We had seven guys with a sinus and throat infection, so it’s been a pretty tough week of practice with the guys sick,” Figsby said. “We just have to stay focused and get healthy, and we’ll be ready for the playoffs.”

The Stingers will wrap up their season Friday night at 7:30 when they face the McGill Redmen at the Ed Meagher Arena.