Third period heroics were needed in the Hamilton Kilty B’s 4-2 victory over Thorold Friday night, as forward Matthew Duarte put home the decider 13:27 into the final frame, in Hamilton’s first game action since Dec. 19.
Monteith (20), Mason Matheson (3) and Colin MacDougall (9) also scored for the Kilty B’s (24-5-0-0, with a standout effort from Braedyn McIntosh in net to secure the win. The young netminder stopped 21 shots in his ninth win this season (9-2-0-1). The Blackhawks (7-22-0-0) struck first, just over halfway through the first period, when Nathan Kelly scored his ninth goal of the season, assisted by Sam Tonelli. The pair were dangerous all night, combining on both Thorold goals.
Monteith tied the game only a few minutes later, on a goal assisted by Duarte, to equalize the game at one-a-piece after the first frame.
A sprawling, cross-crease save by McIntosh in the opening minutes of the second period, was shortly followed by Matheson’s go-ahead goal – a shorthanded marker on a deke around an aggressive poke-check by Thorold goalie Noah Fortuna (6-13-2).
That’s when the physicality picked up, and a series of penalties on both sides led to a 4-on-3 advantage for the Blackhawks. The extra man proved too much for Hamilton on this occasion, and Tonelli banged home a rebound during a scrum in front of the net to once again even the score before the teams headed to the locker room.
The dynamic duo of Duarte and Monteith struck again late in the third, finding themselves two-on-one near the Blackhawks net. Monteith’s pass left Fortuna with no chance, and Duarte had a tap-in for his 12th of the year to put his team ahead for good.
MacDougall sealed the victory with an empty-net goal in the final minute.
Next Game Preview Notes:
- The Kilty B’s are back in action Saturday night as they take on their rivals in Caledonia.
- Hamilton has the upper hand over Caledonia this season, winning two out of the three games so far, including a shootout win in their first meeting on Oct. 14.
- Caledonia holds the advantage in the long run however, with a record of 6-2-0-1 over the past five years.
- Hamilton sits eight points ahead of Caledonia in the Golden Horseshoe Conference standings (prior to Friday’s action), although Caledonia holds a game-in-hand.
- Gage Stewart (15-1-0) will likely get the start in goal for the Kilty B’s in the second leg of the back-to-backs on Saturday.
