The Vikings’ forward, Jason Cossette drives the net with the puck as the Golden Knights’ goalie, Mitchell Bown (31) shuts the door. The Golden Knights’ defender, Andrew MacKinnon (7) gets a hook on the Vikings’ player. Moore photo

OTTAWA—The Casselman Vikings played two playoff games this past weekend as they welcomed the Ottawa West Golden Knights on Thursday night for game three and travelled to Ottawa on Saturday night for game four.

Vikings 2 Golden Knights 1

The Casselman Vikings travelled to the Barbara Ann Scott Arena in Ottawa on Sat., March 9, to take on the Ottawa West Golden Knights in game four of the best of seven CCHL2 Martin Division semifinal. The Vikings were coming off their first loss to the Golden Knights in three years in the playoffs but still led the series two games to one. 

The Vikings opened the scoring when Evan Boucher scored his first goal of the playoffs at 11:31, of the first period from Samuel Mattie and Louis Chabot taking a 1-0 lead. The Vikings outshot the Golden Knights 14-12 and took a 1-0 lead into the first intermission. 

The Vikings took a two-goal lead when Samuel Labre fired home his first goal of the post season from Jason Cossette at 13:28 of the second period. The Vikings took a 2-0 lead into the second intermission. 

The Golden Knights spoiled the Vikings’ goalie, Mathieu Chenier’s shutout bid with just 47 seconds remaining in the third period. The Golden Knights pulled their goalie in favour of an extra attacker with under 30 seconds remaining but the Vikings were able to ward off the Golden Knights attack taking the game by a score of 2-1. 

With the win, the Vikings took a 3-1 stranglehold on the series as they head back to the friendly confines of the J. R. Brisson Complex. The Vikings outshot the Golden Knights 36-32. Picking up the win in the Vikings’ goal was Chenier making 29 saves and suffering the loss in the Golden Knights’ goal was Mitchell Bown making 34 saves.

The Vikings’ captain and defenseman, Brady Cloutier tries to get around the Golden Knights’ forward, Ric Shin (17). The Golden Knights took a 3-1 lead into the third period but the Vikings could only score one in the third as the Golden Knights hung on for a 3-2 victory. Moore photo

Golden Knights 3 Vikings 2

The Casselman Vikings welcomed the Ottawa West Golden Knights to the J. R. Brisson Complex on Thurs., March 7, for game three of the best of seven CCHL2 Martin Division semifinal. The Vikings went into the game leading the series 2-0 and had a chance to take a stranglehold on the series with a victory. 

The Vikings were short a couple of key players. The teams battled to a scoreless first period with the Vikings outshooting the Golden Knights 13-7. The Golden Knights opened the scoring when Jack Haymes scored from Noah Haymes and Justin James at 4:48 of the first period. 

The Golden Knights took a two goal lead at 13:26 as Lucas Brown fired one home from James and Daniel Stratis on the power play and took a three-goal lead when Sean Kearns scored from Stratis at 17:20. 

The Vikings closed the gap to two when Gabriel Rousselle scored his second goal of the post season from Ryan Williams with just 1:09 remaining in the middle frame. The Golden Knights took a 3-1 lead into the second intermission. 

The Vikings got to within one as Evan Landry scored his first of the playoffs from Samuel Mattie and Brandon Legare on the power play at 7:31. The Vikings pulled their goalie with just over a minute remaining in favour of an extra attacker and had a couple of chances to score but couldn’t get the puck to cross the line. 

The Golden Knights did find the back of the abandoned cage but the play was offside with about 20 seconds remaining. The Vikings couldn’t establish control in the Golden Knights end before the game expired. The Golden Knights took the game 3-2. 

The Vikings outshot the Golden Knights 37-29. Picking up the win in the Golden Knights’ goal was Mitchell Bown making 35 saves and suffering the loss in the Vikings’ goal was Nick Campbell making 26 saves.

Up next

The Casselman Vikings travel to the Barbara Ann Scott Arena in Ottawa on Thurs., March 14, for game six, if necessary, at 7:20 p.m. and back to the J. R. Brisson Complex on Sat., March 16, for game seven, if necessary.