Story by Brock Ormond
The Wellington Dukes did just enough to squeak by a rival opponent that is playing for pride and an elusive win.
Zack Carrier’s second goal and third point of the night, coming on a rare penalty shot in double overtime, gave the Dukes a 4-3 escape past the Cobourg Cougars.
The team with the most goals allowed, the second worst goal differential and longest in-season losing skid in the OJHL earned their first point since their last win on Nov. 7 versus the St. Michael’s Buzzers and nearly pulled off a massive upset.
The visitors opened the scoring on an Ivan Mentiukov powerplay snipe past the glove of Royden Smith, but the Dukes found a quick answer through Carrier on a rebound 26 seconds later.
The two teams traded markers again early in the second, with Royce Butler breaking Cobourg out of the tie with a shot through Smith’s legs, and Sacha Trudel switching on the jets and surging past the Cobourg defence after taking a pass from Tristan Williams to slot the puck through Slayer’s legs.
Liam Campbell put Wellington ahead for the first time at 4:36 with an accurate shot top shelf, but Slayer shut the door the rest of the period despite several Wellington pushes.
Cobourg hung around until the final 2:44 of regulation, when Henry Wang whipped a shot off the post and in to deadlock the score again going to overtime.
Both teams treaded water through parts of two extra frames until Carrier was hauled down trying to get away on a break, triggering the penalty shot call.
Carrier came in like a rocket and deked out Slayer on the backhand, depositing his second of the game and 28th of the season home to rile up the faithful at the Duke Dome and send the Cougars home frustrated.
Smith made 31 saves to help the Dukes win their sixth game in a row at home and fifth in the last six total, improving to 22-14-3-5 on the season and 52 points.
A quick turnaround on Saturday will see the Dukes head out on the road to visit the Newmarket Hurricanes at 4:30 p.m.
