by Garrett Fodor
Fresh-off the 8-2 drubbing that Essex handed to Dresden on January 24, the 73’s returned home to conclude their home-and-home series with the Kings’ on January 28.
From the face-off, the 73’s were quick to limit the action that Goalie, Connor Meyerink, faced as the 73’s offense took control of puck possession throughout the first stanza. As a result, the 73’s gave up just seven shots in the first period. Despite firing 15 shots at the Kings’ Goaltender, Aiden Lucyk made several 10-bell saves to keep the game scoreless in the first period.
In the second period, however, the 73’s offense finally cracked Lucyk and the Kings’ defense. Defenseman Keegan MacVoy scored his second goal as a 73, in back-to-back games, to give his team the lead just over four-minutes into the second.
Five minutes later, 73’s overage Forward, Josh Pope-Ferguson, notched his eighth goal of the season, before Bryce O’Brien scored just over 30-seconds later, which gave the 73’s a commanding 3-0 lead.
Alex Demers added a tally in the final minutes of the period, to give Essex a 4-0 lead heading into the second intermission. Shots after 40-minutes of play were 28-12, in favour of the 73’s.
In the third period, the 73’s offense continued to roll, despite exchanging goals with the Kings. Quinn Fazekas made it 5-0 when he finished off a no-look-pass from Bryce Ryan. Jace Leach scoreed 1:45 later, to put the Kings on the board. But, the 73’s responded with goals from Darcy Haupt and O’Brien, who notched his second of the evening.
Dresden picked up third period goals from Derek Shaw and former 73, Tyler Beneteau, but were unable to come any closer. The 73’s prevailed, 7-3. Final shot totals were 42-21 in favour of the 73’s.
The 73’s will be off until February 4 when they return home to host the Amherstburg Admirals for a battle of third place in the Stobbs Division. Essex will then close out the season on the road, traveling to Blenheim on February 9 to play the Blades.