Pirates two points off top spot

The Picton Pirates climbed within two points of first place Thursday evening with a 4-3 win over the visiting Port Hope Panthers.
The local Jr. C club has been hot of late, racking up a 5-0-2 record in their last seven games, taking 12 of a possible 14 points.
The win came as the team had blown leads in its previous two games and wound up dropping an overtime and a shootout result.
While points for forcing overtime are valuable as the Empire Jr. C regular season enters its final two weeks, the team had seen doubt creep into its dressing room as to whether the young club could win one goal games down the stretch.
On Thursday, Picton entered the third period with a 4-3 lead and ended the game with the same margin of victory thanks to standout goaltending, great faceoff work and sound defensive play.
“This was a very important victory for us,” Pirates GM Jason Parks said. “We really needed to put some demons to sleep and I think we learned how to grind out a one goal game.”
Picton got great defensive efforts in the final 20 minutes from Dylan Leduc and Eric Hayes while defencemen Brandon Peever and Steve Csanyi anchored the blueline.
“Those guys were lights out for us, I can’t say enough about their efforts in helping us nail down our 18th win of the season,” Parks added.
After coming on in relief of Real Cormier early in the second period, Matt Kaludis stopped all Panthers shots sent his way including 14 in the third period.
“Real gave up a bad goal, but I don’t fault him on the first two,” Parks said. “He’s a Jr. A calibre goaltender and he’ll bounce back.”
Port Hope got out to a 2-0 lead before Picton scored its first.
The leagues top powerplay unit went to work in the middle of the period and Mitch Rosborough buried a puck during a goal mouth scramble at 13:41
Inside the final minute of the frame, Dylan Mountenay made sure the club would go into the first intermission tied as he stuffed home a loose puck at 19:19
After Port Hope scored a shortside goal early in the second, Picton rebounded nicley with Jack Davison pumping home a Jeff Kingdon feed at 5:56
Picton would go in front to stay at 17:13 when the powerplay clicked for a second time, Mounteany sniping his second thanks to a nice pass from Tyler Kearns.
Picton is in Campbellford Saturday evening with a chance to climb into a tie with Napanee for the Empire lead.
Picton sits in second place with 40 points, just two back from the Raiders.
The locals have a three point lead over the Panthers and the Amherstview Jets and a five point spread over the Rebels.