Blues take 2-0 lead

Spreading the scoring around, dominating on special teams, and benefiting from solid goaltending, the Dundas Blues beat Chippawa 4-2 Saturday night, to take a 2-0 lead in the best of seven second round playoff series.

Dundas scored three times on seven powerplays, while shutting Chippawa down on all five of the visiting team's five powerplays. Dundas had just 16 penalty minutes on four infractions while Chippawa had 22 minutes on seven infractions. Goalie Cam Graham made 26 saves for the win.

Four different Blues scored goals for the winners, and another four players each added at least one assist.

Blues general manager Steve Aglor observed that staying out of the penalty box, and scoring on the powerplay was a huge difference in this game. He said the team aimed to carry the momentum into Sunday night's game three in Chippawa.

"We are playing with lots of confidence right now," Aglor said. "It's an important game in Chippawa tonight. We don't want to let them back in, we hope to go up three games."

Despite outshooting Chippawa 12-7 in the opening period, Saturday night, Dundas gave up a 2-1 lead to the visitors. But those two goals turned out to be the only offence Chippawa would put together all night.

Andrew Clark scored Dundas' first period goal on a powerplay, assisted by Mike Peters.

The tide turned completely into Dundas' favour in the second frame. Powerplay goals from Dylan Gilbert and Cole McNeil gave the Blues a 3-2 lead within the first two minutes of the second frame. McNeil and Gilbert picked up assists on each other's goals, with assists also going to Mike Tache and Robert Bentivegna.

Kevin Dowling iced the win with an even-strength goal in the third period, assisted by Peters and D.J. McConnell.

Dundas travels to Chippawa tonight - Sunday, Feb. 21 - for game three at 7 p.m. Game four brings the teams back to Dundas' J.L. Grightmire Arena on Tuesday, Feb. 23 with a 7:30 p.m. start.