Story by Brock Ormond
Photo: OJHL Images/Wellington Dukes
One more giant step has been taken toward a second round playoff series victory by the Wellington Dukes.
The Dukes blasted the Haliburton County Huskies 8-0 at Lehigh Arena on Monday night to take a commanding 3-0 lead in the Southeast Conference Semifinals.
Luke LaPalm got the ball rolling only 3:15 into the game, pouncing on a Huskies turnover and ripping a low shot past Aidan Spooner in the net.
A little more than a minute later, David Campbell sunk home his third of the playoffs, then Jacob Vreugdenhil scoredo on a reverse wraparound to chase Spooner from the net on just three shots.
The Dukes didn’t slow their roll down a bit with backup goaltender Tyler Hodges between the pipes, with Ed Moskowitz adding a fourth goal off a faceoff before the period ended.
Barret Joynt did his best to keep the train rolling in the second, scoring twice and assisting on a LaPalm shorthanded marker.
Matheson Mason tacked on a powerplay counter in the middle stanza as well, giving Wellington more than enough rope to launch themselves to victory.
Things got a bit testy in the second frame, which led to a steady parade to the penalty box in the third for the Huskies.
Fortunately, Hodges was up to the task in turning away a barrage of Dukes powerplay shots to keep the score the same.
Four Dukes registered three-point nights, including LaPalm, Joynt, Mason, and Campbell, while three more players, Moskowitz, Ryan Smith and Julien Jacob added two points.
Lost in the offensive explosion, but not to be forgotten, was the play of Jacob Osborne.
The Wellington goaltender made 29 saves, many of highlight-quality, leaving the Huskies frustrated all night.
The Dukes now head on a drive to Minden with a chance to clinch a birth in the conference final on Thursday night.
Game 4 begins at 7 p.m.
