The Tampa Bay Juniors Elite came away with a big win over the Charlotte Rush by a 2-1 shootout final Sunday morning. The game was controlled at first by the Rush, but Tampa found it’s grove and made things interesting. Kelan Jamison picked up the shootout winner for Tampa.
Between the pipes, Shane Passaro secures the win with a 35-save performance. He also stopped two of the four shootout attempts Carlotte had. In the losing effort, Cale Puzey was in net for the Rush. He played a tremendous game, stopping 23-of-24, but the shootout got the best of him as he stopped just one shooter.
First Period
Less than five minutes into the opening frame, the Juniors’ Keegan Thurber had a breakaway opportunity to take the lead against a tough Rush team. Thurber tried to go five hole, but Puzey quickly shut that down, keeping the game scoreless. At 9:15 of the period, Passaro had to come up with a huge left-pad save to keep the game scoreless. A shot from the point took a deflection off the shin pad of a Juniors play. Rush captain, Darren Freeman, was able to locate the loose puck in the slot, carry it to the right-wing side of the net, and riffle one down low that a stretching Passaro was able to save.
At 14:59, Tampa went on the penalty kill as Adam Roberts was called for kneeing. On the ensuing powerplay, Charlotte was able to convert with 59 seconds to John Attardo had the puck on the left-wing side of the ice. Looking for options, he chose to throw one on net, which worked out in the end. Viktor Pettersson was battling in front of the goal with a Tampa defensman. The puck bounced off Pettersson’s skate and into the back of the net to give the Rush a 1-0 lead late in the period. Mark Tagg registered the secondary assist on the play.
The Rush took their lead into the first intermission. They went 1 for 2 on the only two powerplay chances in the period, and heavily outshot Tampa, 17-5.
Second Period
Early in the second period, Tampa’s Dylan Mize sprung himself on a breakaway. Trying to tie the game, he took a quick shot from just above the hashmarks. Puzey got a big piece of it, but it somehow trickled behind him. With great awareness, he reached back and knocked the puck away from the goal line, keeping his team with the 1-0 lead.
At 8:34 of the second period, Passaro came with with three big saves, with the second being a highlight-reel worthy save. Off a shot from Tagg, the rebound would lie right in front of the net. Pettersson would find the rebound, a put a shot on that Passaro was able to get his left pad on. With another rebound that popped out, Freeman was able to find the second rebound. On his stomach already, Passaro, somehow, got his glove and pad on the puck to keep that shot out to keep his team’s deficit to just one.
Just 45.6 seconds to go in the period, Tampa Bay gained momentum as it tied the game at 1. Robert Zettler forced a turnover by the Rush. Picking his head up, he found Paul Johnson behind everyone and dished him a pass right on the tape of his stick. It looked as Johnson hesitated a bit, but it fooled the goalie as he faked forehand and went to the backhand to tuck the puck under the pad of Puzey.
Shots for the second period were close, as the Rush held a slight 12-10 advantage. The only penalty in the period came on the Rush, but Tampa were unable to capitalize on it, going 0-for-1.
Third Period
A fast paced, back-and-forth period was winding down to the final minute. Both teams were generating chances throughout the period, but none that caused too big of a scare. Neither team was able to secure the game-winning goal, and overtime was needed to settle this one. Shots for the period were a lot less than they had been the rest of the game as the teams combined for 10 total shots, with the Juniors leading the charge 6-4.
Overtime
Into a five-minute 3-on-3 period, Tampa came out flying, creating a couple of chances early and pinning the Rush in their own zone. With 1:54 to go, a bad and lazy penalty by Freeman allowed Tampa the chance to call game on a powerplay. A lot of puck movement could not lead to the Juniors ending the game, and a shootout was needed.
Too end overtime, the teams had three shots a piece, with the Juniors officially going 0 for 1 on the powerplay.
Shootout
Charlotte Shooters
Pettersson: Goal
Aibouly Temirlan: Goal
Gavin Mulchay: No Goal
James Massimi: No Goal
Tampa Shooters
Derek Aryona: Goal
Max Racliff: Goal
Dylan Hineman: No Goal
Jamison: Goal
Tampa took the shootout 4-3 and the game 2-1.
