The Timmins Rock dropped a 3-2 shootout decision to the Buffalo Jr. Sabres on Day 2 of the Cottage Cup Showcase at Wasaga Beach Arena, on Wednesday.
It was the second game of the showcase for the Rock, who dropped a 5-1 decision to the OJHL’s Toronto Jr. Canadiens on Tuesday.
The Rock had no answer for the Sabres forward Matthew Lee on Wednesday, as he scored both of Buffalo’s regulation goals and one of its two shootout tallies.
Lee gave the Sabres a 1-0 3:24 into the first of the game’s two periods.
The Rock got back on even terms less than two minutes later, however, as Hayden Rynard converted a setup from linemate Thomas Beard and blue-liner Thomas Sefton.
Beard and Rynard then combined to give the Rock their first lead of the showcase during the following period, with the former providing the finishing touches on the power-play marker.
It took Lee just under four minutes to tie things up for Buffalo, with a power-play tally of his own, and force a shootout.
Lee, the first shooter for the Sabres, beat Rock goalie Graham Gee to give his squad the early advantage.
The Rock’s first shooter, Lucas Lowe, was then denied by Buffalo goalie Anthony Alessi.
After Gee denied Buffalo’s second attempt by Cam Doran, Rock forward Kaeden McArthur beat Alessi to deadlock the shootout at 1-1.
Neither Henry McLellan, of the Rock, nor Tyler Isherwood, of the Sabres, were able to convert on their teams’ third attempts, forcing the need for extra shooters.
Again, Rock shooter Reece Liu and Sabres sniper Joshua Przystal were unsuccessful, setting up the need for a fifth round.
Lee made no mistake on his shot, while Alessi turned aside the attempt by Rock forward Jack Anderson, giving the Sabres the victory.
