Box Score Adrian Volpe picked a perfect time to come up with his best performance of the season.
The veteran goaltender made 40 saves as the eighth seeded Brock Badgers men's hockey team defeated the top-ranked Windsor Lancers 2-1 in game one of their best of three OUA quarterfinal playoff series, Wednesday night at the Seymour-Hannah Centre.
Volpe made 15 stops in the first period, 16 in the second and nine in the third, in what could have been his final home game in a Brock Badgers uniform.
"I just came into this game wanting to really just have fun. I didn't want to think too much about that, and we really didn't have anything to lose," said the fourth year goaltender who has endured an injury riddled and inconsistent season.
Volpe's 2014/15 numbers: 3 wins, 5 losses, 3.94 GAA, and .886 save percentage – but that was all thrown out the door Wednesday night as the Burlington native decided to throw some of his normal pre-game habits to the curb.
"I'm usually a very superstitious guy," added the Sociology major. "But the past couple of weeks, I haven't thrown it all out the window, but certainly some of it. This is my last year and I realised I just have to start having some fun with it, and just go as far as we can."
Brock head coach
Murray Nystrom admitted Volpe was the difference.
"We needed a solid performance from Adrian," Nystrom said "The one goal that beat him – I don't think he had a chance on it. It's nice to see him give us a playoff type performance and hopefully that can continue."
Nystrom was also pleased with how his team responded in the third period. Trailing 1-0 after 40 minutes after being outshot 32-11, the Badgers played their best in the final stanza outshooting the Lancers 13-9.
"We talked a lot about that heading into the third (period)," Nystrom said. "We knew it was going to be a game of momentum. They have the countries leading scorer in (Spencer) Pommels, the countries top scoring defenceman in Kenny Bradford, and the countries best goaltender in Van Buskirk. It was nice to respond the way we did."
After Pommels set up Dylan Denomme on the powerplay to open the scoring 18:40 into the second period, Brock tied things on a beautiful individual effort from
Andrew Radjenovic . The Badgers leading scorer split the Windsor defence and beat Van Buskirk with a nifty breakaway goal.
Just 51 seconds later
Kaine Geldart scored what turned out to be the game winner from Radjenovic and twin brother Anthony.
Game two goes Saturday afternoon. Game 3, if necessary, is also back in Windsor on Sunday night.
"We know it's going to be an emotional weekend, and Windsor's going to come with a push. They're the defending (OUA) champions," added Nysrom.
Badger Bits: Windsor finished in the regular season with a (22-4-1) record, while Brock was (10-15-2)
A Tampa Bay Lightning scout was in attendance at the game.
