Duchene notched 2 assists in draw with Crusaders
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Copenhagen, Denmark- A meetings of epic proportions took place in the Danish capital on Wednesday with the 2nd place Thunder Bay Timberwolves visiting the 1st place Copenhagen Crusaders.
>>>The end result proved nothing more than both hockey clubs are far too similar to name one better than the other. At least for one game.
>>>A goal from newly acquired Rene Bourque put the Crusaders up first in the opening period. A tying tally from Ales Hemsky cleaned the slate and evened things up for the Timberwolves going into the first intermission.
>>>"We're playing them tight and getting the shots we want," said Timberwolves rookie centre, Matt Duchene [pictured] between periods. "We know we can play with these guys. Now it's a matter of overtaking them and taking some points home with us."
>>>In the second period, Steven Stamkos became the first player in the CCHL this season for score 50 goals. The former Sarnia Sting centre made it 2-1 for the Crusaders while on the power play at 2:59 from Bobby Ryan and Mike Green.
>>>Thunder Bay's Patrick Sharp tied things up again at 7:40 for his 25th of the season from Duchene and Rick Nash.
>>>Another Timberwolves goal from Simon Gagne at 14:09 from Carl Gunnarsson and Hemsky put the visitors on top for the first time in the game and took that lead into the third period.
>>>"We cannot back down in this next 20 minutes," said Timberwolves defenseman Erik Johnson. "They can be explosive if given space, and we need to isolate them and limit their chances while still pushing the puck and taking chances ourselves. It's great to have this lead. We just need to hold it and add to it. Not an easy task against a team like this."
>>>The Timberwolves lead would not hold. At 7:10 into the 3rd period, Stamkos reached #51 and bringing Copenhagen back.
>>>Having lost their brief lead, Thunder Bay limited their opponent to only five more shots in the period. But so did the Crusaders. Limiting the Timberwolves to seven shots. Jimmy Howard stopping them all.
>>>Overtime would solve nothing, and both hockey clubs skating away with a 3-3 tie and splitting the two points at hand.
>>>"It's disappointing," summed up Timberwolves head coach Craig Hartsburg after the game. "We weren't disciplined and we lucked out with them only scoring once with eight power play opportunities. We need to shut down their top guys, and we didn't. Some might say we proved we are equals with a tie. That's horse s***. Our focus and lone goal for this game was to win. We didn't. So we failed there. I'm not going to let this club settle for a draw. If we want what every other team in this league strives for, we have got to get better. I know we have it. It's a matter of wanting it more than the other guy."
>>>The Timberwolves flew out immediately after Wednesdays game to return home and prepare for another tough opponent on Friday against the Dayton Musicmen.
>>>"We should be healthy and have a complete roster. So we're good there," said Timberwolves GM Blake Wendt from his office back in Thunder Bay. "Dayton is loaded and are running in full stride right now. Match-ups will be key for us. They roll out four solid lines and will make you pay dearly if you don't match them. We'll be ready though.
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>>>3-STARS
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>>>*Steven Stamkos [COP] - 2 goals [50 & 51]
>>**Ales Hemsky [THU] - 1 goal and an assist
>***Bobby Ryan [COP] - 2 assists
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