The Listowel Cyclones were pushed to the limit by a hungry Elmira Sugar Kings team.
Going into Friday night's game, the Cyclones had won 11 straight, including a close 3-2 game in Waterloo last weekend. But the Elmira Sugar Kings have had success recently as well, winning four out their last five contests.
Elmira started out strong, forcing their way into Listowel's end early in the first peiod. Then after drawing a penalty just five minutes into the game, the Sugar Kings power play went to work. But it did not last after defenceman Harrison Toms was flagged for holding the stick. Despite that, Elmria was able to open the scoring on the ensuing 4-on-4 courtesy of Johnah Burley who snapped a shot by Listowel goalie Riley McCabe.
Elmira would hold the lead until late in the period. While on a power play, both Elmira defencemen tried to overwhelm Holdyn Lansink at the Listowel blueline. Fellow penalty killer Brayden Krieger took advantage of the situation, stole the puck, and sprinted to his fourth short handed goal of the season to tie up the game.
The back and forth opportunities continued for the rest of the game with Elmira scoring on the power play at 16:47 of the second period courtesy of Kurtis Goodwin and Listowel tying it up at 13;14 of the third while on a 5-on-3 power play. Holdyn Lansink picking up his 16th goal of the campaign.
The first overtime did not solve anything. Then just 16 seconds into the second overtime, Elmira forward Kurtis Goodwin tipped a puck into the Listowel net to end the game. Listowel questioned the goal as goalie Riley McCabe was hit by an Elmira player after making the first save. But that player was engaged with a Listowel defender at the time and the officials called it a good goal.
McCabe made 28 saves on 31 shots while Elmira's Mat Woroniuk made 23 saves.
And despite being ranked 1st and 3rd in the GOJHL heading into the game, both power plays struggled Friday night. The Sugar Kings were 1-for-6 and Listowel 1-for-7.
The Cyclones will now turn their attention to Stratford as the Warriors are in Listowel on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. and Elmira will host Brampton Sunday night.
The Warriors shut out Cambridge 3-0 and are tied with Listowel with 28 points atop the Midwest Conference.
