Monday, March 21, 2005

Whalers end regular season beating Knights

John Vigilante’s power play goal at 14:32 of the second period proved to be the game-winner as the Plymouth Whalers went on to defeat the London Knights 4-3 played Saturday night before a sellout crowd of 3,916 at the Compuware Sports Arena.

The victory was Plymouth’s first against the Canadian Hockey League’s best team. London is now 59-6-2-0. The Whalers finish the season with a 30-29-6-3 record good for 69 points and second place in OHL’s West Division.

Plymouth fell behind 2-1 in the first period when London’s Danny Fritsche scored two goals (17, 18) just 17 seconds apart. Plymouth countered when the game’s first star Tim Sestitio scored on a backhand shot that beat Kinights’ goaltender Adam Dennis just above the glove-hand side.

In the second period, Plymouth scored three times to take a 4-2 lead into the third. Jonas Fiedler scored his 19th goal of the season by taking a beautiful pass from Cory Tanaka and firing it into the back of the net. Vaclav Meidl’s (12th) persistency paid off by slapping at a rebound until it slid passed Dennis at 10:35 of the second. Vigilante (24th) ripped a slap shot from the left point that lit the lamp and gave the Whaler’s 4-2 lead after two periods of play.

London’s Jordan Foreman (11th) scored the lone third period goal, but it wasn’t enough to top Plymouth.

Plymouth starts the playoffs next Friday night in Owen Sound against the Attack. The game can be heard at 7:15 p.m. on WSDS 1480-AM. Game Two of the series is back at the Compuware Sports Arena next Saturday. Tickets are available for the Plymouth Whalers playoff games at the Compuware Sports Arena Box office. Tickets can be ordered by phone by calling (734) 453-8400. The CSA box office is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and on Saturday game days from 11:00 a.m. until the end of the second period.

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