The Elora Rocks and Ripley Wolves find themselves right back where they were seven days ago - a tied series after a weekend split.
Ripley took the lead in this best-of-seven WOAA 'AA' playoff series with a 6-3 win in Game 3 played at Ripley last Friday night. Two nights later, Elora dropped the hammer in a big way as they mercilessly pounded the Wolves 11-0 in Game 4 to even the series at 2-2.
In Ripley last Friday night, it was the Nick Locking show for the opening 20 minutes. The league's second-leading scorer scored three times for the Wolves - twice in the last 1:44 of the period. That outburst proved to be the end of the line for Rocks goalie Joe Amlinger, who was replaced in goal by Blake Sinclair. Sinclair allowed three goals over the final two periods, as the Rocks' offence sputtered in trying to keep up with the Locking-led Wolves attack.
Ryan DeBoer, Jeremy Machin and Matt Snider scored for the Rocks, who didn't get on the board until four minutes into the second when they were down 4-0. Assists went to Ken Dunn, Rich Colwill, Brett Machin, Mike Brito, Fraser Young and Jeremy O'Donnell.
Game 4 was a sharp contrast to the way Elora has played the previous two games. As potent as their offence turned out to be, the Rocks' defence was their calling card for the victory.
Elora got first-period goals from Fraser and Brandon Young as well as John Lunney, giving them all the points they would eventually need. But they made the adjustment to have one of their top two lines on the ice to counter Colling's presence every time he, Curtis Locking and Travis Van Gaver stepped off the bench.
As strong as they played in the first period, Elora crushed the Wolves' will with a strong second period - six goals scored, with three coming in a six-minute span that blew the game wide open. Add to that Sinclair's strong play in somewhat limited action over the first 30 minutes of the game and Elora found themselves in total control.
Brito finished with a hat trick and one assist, while Jeremy Machin (1 goal, 2 assists), Tyler Leggo (1,3) and Lunney (2,2) also had big games on the scoresheet.
Following the win, Rocks coach Kevin Lobsinger said his team has come a long way from Game 1 - a game he wasn't entirely convinced the Rocks deserved to win.
"We hadn't really played a complete game in this series until tonight," he said. "Games 2 and 3 were total stinkers, so this was good for us to bounce back in this way."
Having the last change against Locking, Colling and Van Gaver was a key factor in limiting their chances and ability to score, but Lobsinger didn't see a shutout coming.
"It was key for us to have Snider and (Josh) Taylor out there against Locking's line, and we asked Lunney's line to check them and I think they did a great job tonight," he said. "Obviously we didn't play well in either Game 2 or 3 up there, so it was important for us to come out and turn in a strong effort - otherwise we would've been looking at a 3-1 deficit going in to Game 5."
Dunn echoed the statement made by Jeremy Machin following the team's Game 2 loss when he said they hadn't played at their best in a while, but added that when they do reach their potential it doesn't matter who they're on the ice with.
"We came into tonight's game wanting to focus on every shift, and we got into the game early," he said. "It's a lot easier to come home because you know you've got that last change for match-ups. I think we tried too hard to get the ones we wanted in the first three games, and tonight was a lot more natural."
With credit to the job Sinclair did in goal, both Lobsinger and Dunn believe the key to playing against Ripley's top line is being physical and working hard.
"With all due respect to the 11 goals we scored tonight, I think the bigger number is the zero we gave up to them," Dunn said.
The series wraps up this weekend with the potential for three games. Game 5 will be in Elora on Friday, Feb. 26 at 8:30 p.m., while Game 6 heads back to Ripley on Saturday, Feb. 27 at 7:30 p.m. If necessary, Game 7 will be played in Elora on Sunday, Feb. 28, at 8:30 p.m.