Trappers fire power too much for Flyers

Captain Joel Senecal fishes for a re-bound in the second period, where the Trappers built a four nothing lead in a 7-2 crushing of the Kapuskasing Flyers. Photo By: Todd Vandonk

The North Bay Trappers cruised to a 7-2 victory over the Kapuskasing Flyers Sunday afternoon. The win gives the Trappers 36 points on the season and moves them within five points of the Valley East Cobras for third spot in the GNML.

“He played big when we needed him,” is how Coach John Couch explained Trappers goalie Shawn Bailey’s performance in the crease Sunday afternoon.

A sluggish Trappers team and a whistle happy zebra landed the home team in the sin bin five times in the first frame for a variety of stick in fractions. Bailey answered by turning away a flurry of quality chances, while stopping 15 shots before the siren went to end the sloppy first.

“The other team is going to get their odd man chances, so I need to make the first stop. My defensemen did a good job at letting me see the puck by keeping their chances to the outside and clearing the second chances,” said Bailey.

Trappers Nick Huard continued where he left off Saturday night by awarding Bailey with 1:42 left in the stanza. Huard jumped on a loose puck as the time ran out on a Flyers penalty and found the back of the net.

The Trappers momentum carried into the second, where they put a stranglehold on the Flyers.

“It’s still not what we’re used to seeing but we came out a little harder, a little stronger and had a real good second period. I hope we can build on this for next weekend because it will be the biggest two games we’ll have up to this point,” said Couch.

Jordan Scott needed only twenty-five seconds in the middle period to stretch the Trappers lead to two. Joel Senecal and Josh McCully added singles, giving the Trappers a comfortable lead heading into the final twenty minutes.

Trappers penalty troubles forced Bailey to be sharp again in the second. One of Bailey’s nine stops in the period stuck out in Couch’s head.

“Bailey played well. He made some big saves for us, one in particular. The one that could have changed the pace of the game in the second period, he threw his pad out and made a wonderful save,” said Couch.

And a big save it was. With the score two nothing and the Trappers back on their heels, the Flyers had a glorious chance to get back in the game but Bailey slid across in the butterfly and stopped the two-on-one attempt.

Huard, and Scott notched their second goals of the game in the third, and Matthew Thompson added one to round out the Trappers scoring. Alain Della-Pieta and Steve Hince would eventually solve Bailey before the games final buzzer.

The Trappers will have their hands full next weekend when the meet the first place Soo North Stars on Saturday and Sunday at West Ferris arena.