GREG PALMER’S LATE GOAL WINS TIGHT DEFENSIVE BATTLE BETWEEN TORONTO AND OAKVILLE

The Oakville Buzz played just their fourth home game of the season Wednesday night, welcoming the undefeated Toronto Beaches. Needing a win to keep pace in the standings the home side kept it close, even leading for the majority of the third period, but eventually fell short 9-8.

Both Oakville’s Evan Constantopoulos and Toronto’s Thomas Kiazyk were phenomenal all night. It was 12 minutes into the first period before the first goal was scored between the two normally powerful offences. Will Sheehan tied the game five minutes later, and then Greg Palmer scored to give Toronto a 2-1 lead after the first.

Six minutes into the second period Riley Ford not only tied the game, but also scored to give the Buzz the lead, one they’d hold onto for nearly eight minutes. That’s when Willem Firth stepped out of the corner on the power play, turned and shot for his first of an eventual natural hat trick in 2:44. Brian Jackman’s late goal made it 5-4 heading into the third.

Three early goals pulled Oakville ahead. The first was by far the prettiest from Xander Derkatz who cut through the defence and, while in stride, scored backhand through his legs. Sheehan and Jack Wright followed suit to lead 7-5. After Lubiniecki and Firth re-tied the game, Jackman once again gave Oakville the lead. It took nearly seven minutes for the next goal as the two netminders were tremendous again, including Kiazyk making a sprawling save with a Buzz player in tight. The ball ended up hitting the top of his right foot as he fell backwards, losing his stick in the process.

With 3:33 to go, Firth set a screen for Matt Collison, who was unusually quiet until he stepped pace the seal and scored tying the game at eight. That’s where the score sat until Beaches’ head coach Riley O’Connor called time out. With the attention on Firth and Collison, the ball moved to Greg Palmer whose low shot on the run got under Costantopoulos with 0.8 on the clock for a 9-8 victory that keeps Toronto’s season perfect at 9-0.

Willem Firth finished with four goals and seven points. Not far behind was Greg Palmer’s six (2+4). Thomas Kiazyk stopped 30 of 38 Oakville shots.

Riley Ford led the Buzz with six points (2+4). Will Sheehan had five (2+3) and Brian Jackman had four (2+2). Evan Costantopoulos stopped 49 of 58 Toronto shots in a losing effort.