In a thrilling game that extended into double overtime, Burlington clinched a 5-4 victory. The Blades, despite their early offensive success, were unable to hold off a relentless Burlington comeback. Oakville will have a chance to bounce back tonight, October 5, when they hit the road to face the Mississauga Chargers at Port Credit Arena at 7:45 PM.
First Period:
The Blades came out strong, taking control of the first period with two quick goals to establish a commanding lead. At 11:27, Jack Dean opened the scoring, finding the back of the net with assists from Cormick Smallegange and Matteo Gauthier. Dean’s positioning was perfect as he capitalized on a defensive breakdown by Burlington, snapping a shot past goaltender Leland Gill.
Less than two minutes later, James Paul doubled Oakville’s lead. Paul’s goal came after Oakville put a lot of pressure on Burlington in the offensive zone, keeping them on their heels, with help from Ben Theron and Matthew Indovina. The early surge from Oakville put Burlington on notice as the Blades confidently skated into the first intermission with a 2-0 lead.
Second Period:
Burlington, however, responded with a vengeance in the second period. Oakville’s momentum slowed, and the Cougars began chipping away at the deficit. With a quick wrist shot and help from Luke Allison and Jack Dean, Marcus Hookong increased Oakville’s lead to 3-0 just 1:45 into the second frame. This goal initially seemed to cement Oakville’s dominance, but Burlington would soon turn the tide.
Burlington finally broke through Oakville’s defence at 6:39, when Jake Mallory found the net with assists from Nikola Murgic and Ryan Gagner, narrowing the score to 3-1. This goal gave the Cougars a much-needed spark, and just under two minutes later, Burlington struck again on the power play. At 8:25, Noah Garthe and Connor Prestwich helped Peter Kioussis bury a rebound, cutting Oakville’s lead to one.
Burlington’s relentless attack paid off late in the period, tying the game at 3-3 with only seconds remaining in the frame. Gagner and Kioussis assisted Garthe in scoring a crucial equalizer at 18:56. Oakville struggled to contain Burlington’s offensive pressure, which led to costly penalties throughout the period. The Blades were whistled for roughing and cross-checking, giving Burlington several power play opportunities that they capitalized on.
Third Period:
Entering the third period with the game tied at 3-3, both teams played cautiously, knowing that one mistake could swing the game in the other’s favour. Oakville’s discipline faltered again, however, when Brady Charlton took two penalties in the third—holding at 7:49 and slashing at 14:57—further putting pressure on the Blades’ defence to hold firm.
Burlington took their first lead of the game at 18:30 in the third period. Mathieu MacMillan scored the go-ahead goal for the Cougars, assisted by Garthe and Alexander Stephen, pushing Burlington to a 4-3 advantage. The goal seemed like the dagger, but Oakville refused to go down quietly.
With time winding down, Oakville pulled goaltender Chris Quizzi for the extra attacker, and the decision paid off. At 19:45, James Paul notched his second goal of the game to tie the score at 4-4, forcing overtime. In a play where Oakville took advantage of Burlington’s brief lapse in defensive coverage, Paul was e set up by his linemates Jack Mackenzie and Evan Le Conte.
Overtime:
The first overtime period was a tight, defensive affair, with neither team able to generate many quality scoring chances. Both Quizzi and Gill were sharp between the pipes, making key saves to extend the game into double overtime.
In the second overtime, it was Burlington who eventually broke through. Stephen and Evan Dantas assisted MacMillan on his second goal of the night just 5:19 into the period, giving Burlington the 5-4 victory. The Cougars’ celebration erupted as they secured a hard-fought win after trailing by three goals early in the game.
Special Teams and Goaltending:
Oakville struggled on the power play, going 0-for-2 with the man advantage. Meanwhile, Burlington capitalized on one of their four power play opportunities, which proved to be a critical factor in the game’s outcome. Goaltender Chris Quizzi, despite facing a barrage of 46 shots, made 41 saves and kept Oakville in the game with several key stops, especially during Burlington’s late push in regulation.
On the other end, Burlington’s netminder Leland Gill stopped 29 of 33 shots and came up big in the overtime periods, holding Oakville scoreless when it mattered most.
Penalties and Discipline:
Discipline was an issue for both teams, with Oakville racking up eight minutes in penalties and Burlington taking six. Oakville’s penalties proved especially costly in the second and third periods, allowing Burlington to mount their comeback and generate offensive momentum. Charlton’s penalties in the third period could have sealed Oakville’s fate had Paul not managed to force overtime with his late goal.
Looking Ahead:
Despite the heartbreaking loss, Oakville will have a quick turnaround as they get back on the ice tonight, October 5, to face the Mississauga Chargers. The Blades will travel to Port Credit Arena for a 7:45 PM puck drop as they look to rebound from the tough defeat and regain their form. With a busy schedule ahead, Oakville will need to quickly address the issues that led to Burlington’s comeback and tighten up their play if they hope to secure a victory against the Chargers.
Stay tuned for more updates as the Oakville Blades continue their season, aiming to build on the positives from tonight’s game while correcting the defensive lapses and penalty trouble that cost them against the Cougars.
