Hammond, Terriers Rally Past Klippers in OT

YORKTON, SK: Jeff Hammond scored 1:24 into overtime as the Yorkton Terriers stormed back late in the third to defeat the Kindersley Klippers 4-3 on home ice.

In the opening twenty minutes, the Terriers came out flying, outshooting the Klippers 10-4 in the first 10 minutes. The Terriers got the first scoring chance of the night when Klippers goaltender Cody Jamon was caught out of the net, and the puck hit the stanchion in the corner and popped right out front to Dustin Renas, but it was Jamon diving back in the nick of time, saving the day and keeping the game scoreless. The Terriers would keep up the pressure, as Aiden Knutson and Jye Zawatsky had chances at the side of the net but were denied.

The Terriers found the scoresheet with just over five minutes left in the first period as Renas and Quintin Unreiner dashed down the ice on a 2 on 1 and Renas kept the puck and was able to capitalize on his rebound, opening the scoring for his 7th of the campaign. No penalties were drawn in the fast-paced first period, and the home side outshot the Klippers 14-8

The middle frame began with 4 on 4 for the first two minutes as Jaron Desnoyers and Nathan DeGraves received roughing minors at the end of the first period. Shortly after the coincidental minors were served, the Klippers would tie the game. Kale Taylor floated the puck to the net, and defenceman Russ Demo was able to tip the puck through the legs of Farrow for his 4th of the season.

There were a couple of sequences where it was back-and-forth action with chances at both sides, but both goaltenders were equal to the task, keeping it 1-1.

The Klippers would take the lead with one second left in the middle frame as a streaking DeGraves took a pass from Cam Perlinger, and he roofed it short side past Farrow to give Kindersley their first lead of the hockey game. In the second period, the Klippers had a 10-9 shot advantage over the Terriers.

It was not the start the Terriers wanted to the third period as just 31 seconds into the final frame, Cam Perlinger was the recipient of a bounce in front of Farrow, and he jammed it home to double the Klippers lead. The Terriers, however, continued to push the pace in the third and were finally rewarded on the powerplay. Aiden Knutson made a beautiful behind-the-back no-look pass to a wide-open David Coyle, and he ripped it home to cut the Klippers lead to 3-2; the goal was Coyle’s team-leading 23rd of the campaign. Then, with the goalie out, it was Jaron Desnoyers roofing a loose puck in the crease to tie the game as the Terriers faithful erupted for the tying goal.

In the extra frame, Jeff Hammond skated down the right wing and snapped a shot far side under the glove to lift the Terriers to a 4-3 victory and secure a massive two points as they try to chase down the final playoff spot. Ethan Farrow made 18 saves in the win, and the Terriers outshot the Klippers 40-22

The Terriers have five games left in the season and sit four points out of the final playoff spot.