PORT STANLEY – The Lucan Irish are eliminated from playoff contention but are still showing signs of life, as was evident in a 7-5 win over the Port Stanley Sailors Saturday night.
The Irish sit last in the Southern Ontario Junior Hockey League's Yeck Conference, mathematically eliminated from the playoffs but enjoying a two-game winning streak with three games left to play.
Lucan scored two quick goals in the first period of Saturday's game, courtesy of Dan Sellars and Ryan Clarke.
Port Stanley's Anthony Sachetti scored 3:26 into the period, but Clarke and Sellars each found the net again for Lucan near the mid-way point of the period.
Sailors player Jordan Lant added a goal with 9:13 remaining, leaving the score 4-2 Lucan after 20 minutes.
Lucan's Jordan Vanderwel increased the lead roughly eight minutes into the second period, scoring a goal assisted by Travis Filson and Joel Nother.
Port Stanley's Brandon Vergeer answered with a goal of his own, but Tyler Medd scored for the Irish at 14:51, a power play effort assisted by Chris Van Kasteren and Dustin McTaggart.
Port Stanley scored two goals in the final two minutes of the frame, leaving the score 6-5 Lucan heading into the third period.
Medd scored the only other goal of the game, an unassisted tally with 5:57 remaining in the third.
Irish goalie Dylan Gray faced 43 shots and saved 38 in the victory, while Port Stanley's Stefan Duncan and Blake Rawlings split duties, combining for 29 saves.
The Irish next face the Hagersville Hawks today (Wednesday) at 7:45 p.m. at the Lucan Community Memorial Centre.