BEARS BACK HOME TONIGHT HOSTING STAYNER AFTER CLOSE 3-1 LOSS TO ORILLIA TERRIERS FRIDAY NIGHT

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

BRACEBRIDGE — The 2-8 Bears are looking for a weekend split tonight at home to Stayner after a couple of strong, but losing end performances their past two games.

Last night they scored early at 2:27 with Tyler Lasitz beating visiting Orillia netminder Bennett Mackey 31 seconds in to the game on a power play.

Kevin Demeules celebrates the Bears’ first goal by Tyler Lasitz in a great early start 2:27 in to the game when the Muskoka sniper beat Terrier netminder Bennett Mackey. PHOTO Mark Clairmont MuskokaTODAY.com

But while out-shooting the Terriers 35-34, Joseph Degan gave up three goals for their eighth loss in 10 games.

The close match follows a slightly better performance when they took Innisfil into overtime Sunday in a 3-2 defeat, following a 6-4 loss in Orillia Saturday and another 6-3 loss in Alliston the Friday before.

Terrier Marcus Petroff fires one back at Muskoka’s Joseph Degan who faced 34 shots last night in a good game for the backup goalie. PHOTO Alex Hogg MuskokaTODAY.com

This Friday’s improved game saw the South Muskoka home team hold a one-goal lead over opposition through the rest of the first period and for almost half the second. Until Colton Drummond evened the score at 8:26 and Lleyton McLean took extended the lead to 2-1 at 16:48 just before the second intermission

Muskoka skated evenly with 6-2 Orillia now for most of the third. Until coach Jeff Sanders pulled Degan and leaving Zeke Neely an open net at 18:13 for the insurance marker.

Jakob Medeiros had his stick and elbows up along the boards in an otherwise good game for the losing home team. PHOTO Mark Clairmont MuskokaTODAY.com

The Bears played a much more restrained game given they were the third most penalized team in their North Caruthers PJHL division with no one sent off in the first. Captain Aiden McDonald, who was back two weeks after a punched up jaw, took a charging penalty in the middle frame, along with Tyson Jennings for interference. Lasitz was sent off for roughing in the third. Orillia was called off four times — twice each in the first and second.

Attendance was 288.

Game time tonight at home is 7 p.m.

Wynston Martin comes in close looking to cut in front of Mackey deking him for chance on goal. PHOTO Mark Clairmont MuskokaTODAY.com
Captain Aiden McDonald was back in the lineup looking none the worse after being out two weeks following a bloody fight Sept. 27.
The Bears swarmed the Terriers’ net all night peppering Mackey with 35 shots in their eighth loss in 10 games. PHOTO Mark Clairmont MuskokaTODAY.com
The Bears battled hard for the puck off the faceoff and were within a goal most of the game until an empty netter at 18:13 of the third. PHOTO Alex Hogg MuskokaTODAY.com

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