Burlington Has Mimico On The Ropes With Hot, Humid Game Four Win

Matt Caruk (OJLL)

After both road teams won the opening two games in the semi-final series between the Burlington Blaze and Mimico Mountaineers, Burlington reclaimed home floor winning 12-8 at Central Arena in game three. The Mountaineers were looking to reclaim home floor advantage on Thursday night, but a strong offensive performance from the Blaze’s Braedon Saris and Deacan Knott in net led to an 11-9 Burlington win and a 3-1 series lead.

Saris’ first of three goals finished a five-on-three power play passing play in the first period. In the final minute of the period, with the man advantage again, Alex Marinier shot past a defender to put Burlington up 4-3 after the first period. Mimico’s three goals were scored on just nine shots.

The two opening goals – one per side – were scored in transition. Burlington continued that trend in the second with Ben Trumble racing in to put the Blaze up by two. After Nate Whittom stopped another Trumble chance later in the period, Justin Lee ran the ball up in transition. His shot would be wide of the mark, but the rebound bounced straight to CJ Kirst who faked stick side and scored short side for his twelfth of the playoffs. 35 seconds later, a low shot from Isiah Moran-Weekes tied the game at six. Moran-Weekes tucked another one in from the crease to put Mimico up 7-6 after two.

Five minutes into the third, Trumble grabbed a quick restart from a Mimico over-and-back violation and found Saris running off the bench to the crease, scoring his second. A scrum behind the Burlington net resulted in off-setting major penalties to Knott and Finn Thomson, who was off the floor for the full five minutes. In real time it was much longer due to multiple goalie water breaks and floor wipe-downs inside the hot and humid Mimico Arena. Without their offensive leader, Mimico was only able to score one more goal. Burlington win game four 11-9 and lead the series 3-1 with game five at home on Saturday at 7pm.

Alex Marinier (3 goals, 2 assists) and Braedon Saris (3 goals, 5 assists) continue to control the series offensively. They combined for six goals and 13 points. Isiah Moran-Weekes (2 goals, 2 assists) and Lucas Dudemaine (1 goal, 3 assists) led Mimico with four points.

Deacan Knott stopped 43 of 52 Mimico shots, 21 of those in the third period alone.