Story by Brock Ormond
Photo: Wellington Dukes/OJHL Images
The OJHL quarterfinal series between the Wellington Dukes and Toronto Jr. Canadiens is an even set going back to Prince Edward County.
The Dukes dropped Game 2 on Sunday night by a final score of 4-1, despite carrying the play for much of the contest.
Both teams came out with pace in the first period, however, neither team was able to break the ice until Jordan Karafile stuck a rebound under Jack Lisson with under 90 seconds remaining.
Wellington dominated chunks of the second frame, getting several high-danger chances on Sergei Litvinov, but the dam broke after Connor Van Weelie cut loose to score on a breakaway.
A hit at centre ice forced a turnover and led to an odd-man rush that was finished by Nathan Phillips for his second goal in as many games, extending the JRC lead to 3-0.
Zander Latreille teed Nick DiPaolo up for a shot that was redirected by Connor Hunt for his first of the postseason on a powerplay at , but Wellington was unable to fully climb back.
The game was iced with a Van Weelie empty-netter, his second of the game, in the waning minutes.
Neither group bent to a challenge and the game ended with some fisticuffs between Wellington’s Nick Brady and Brett Bouchard.
Lisson made 30 saves in a stellar performance, while his counterpart Sergei Litvinov made 29 stops in his first game of the series.
Game 3 is slated for 7 p.m. at Lehigh Arena on Tuesday night.
