Generals Dig Deep To Force Game 5

With their backs against the wall the Generals travelled to Didsbury for game 4. The team showed up focused and ready to battle. Momentum has been huge in this series and both teams were looking to gain control of it early on. The Generals have been alternating goaltenders during the series and it was Kenny Quinn who got the nod between the pipes in this one. Quinn, who led the league in wins this past season was looking to show why he is one of the top goalies in the HJHL. Quinn stole the momentum from the Colts midway through the 1st period after he stopped back to back breakaways. Mountainview did manage to open the scoring during a powerplay later in the period. Cochrane went into the dressing room trailing by 1 but felt that they played a solid period.

The start of the second period was even more tight checking then the first. Quinn continued to make big saves to keep the Generals in the game. But once again the Colts scored on the powerplay to increase the lead to 2-0. The Gens were forced to search for momentum once more and they found it after a rock solid shift by Alex Colborne, Riley Boothby, and Wes Kashuba. The trio hit the ice hitting everything in sight and were rewarded when a Colts player took a retaliatory penalty. The powerplay put Mountainview on their heels and Danny McSween took full advantage. Just after the penalty expired McSween put his team on his back and went stickhandled through the Colts' defence and in alone on their goalie. McSween deked to his right and slid the puck in to spark his squad. After the goal the Generals started to attack and eventually tied the game on the powerplay minutes later. Colborne drove the net and swatted home a rebound giving the Generals more life. The period ended with the score 2-2.

The next 20 minutes would determine if the Gens would fight to live another day. Cochrane knew it was now or never and they came out and played their best period of the playoffs. Quinn continued to be stellar in goal, the defence moved the puck quickly and refused to give up scoring chances. The forwards forechecked hard and threw puck after puck on goal. Time was winding down in the period and the Generals hardwork was rewarded with a late powerplay. During the pp the Colts netminder finally showed that he couldnt keep up his cool play and fired a clearing attempt over the glass giving the Generals a 5-3. Cochrane did everything but score on the pp including hitting the post. It wasnt until the penalty just ended that 21 year old Mike Matlo wouldnt be denied any longer. Matlo found the puck on his stick in front of the net and fired a low shot that hit that back of the net and sent his team into a frenzy on the bench. The goal gave the Gens a 3-2 lead with only 1:44 left on the clock. However the game was long from over. Seconds later there was a scrum in front ont the Cochrane net, after the dust settled the Colts were given thier own 5-3 advantage with only 1:26 remaining in the game. Mountainview pulled their goalie making it a 6-3 advantage but the Generals PKer's dug deep and did everything in their power not to give the Colts a shot on goal. Finally veteren Jordan Davidson cleared the puck and the last seconds ticked off the clock.

Cochrane showed tons of heart and determination to square the series at 2 games apiece. Kenny Quinn was spectacular and each skater did their jobs which led to the team being successful. The fifth and deciding game goes Tuesday March 1st at 730 at home. Make sure to head down to the rink and make as much noise as you can to help lift your Generals into the next round of the playoffs!!!