By Alex Gallacher

The Haliburton County Huskies made the 45-minute journey to Lindsay to take on the Muskies, Friday night at the Lindsay Recreation Complex. Following a short-handed game winner by Sam Solarino, the Huskies took the win 2-1. Coming off an overtime win in Cobourg on Monday, the Huskies were eager to take a bite out of the fish in the building where they earned their first win in franchise history. 

From the opening drop of the puck, both teams appeared evenly matched. With around half of the audience sporting Huskies colours, it was a home away from home as Oliver Tarr got to work with two quick chances in the first few minutes. With six players out of the lineup due to injury, the Huskies were forced to play with nearly an entire line missing. However, the team was not phased as the first period was scoreless. 

The most notable moment came when Muskies goalie Ethan Fraser committed highway robbery on Lucas Stevenson, stopping a one timer that appeared destined for the back of the net. 

Opening up the second, the Muskies took a penalty and it opened the door for this first goal of the game. Duncan Scullion would get a dream chance short-handed, the puck flew past Christian Cicigoi and just like that the Muskies took the lead. 

After a few more chances fell by the wayside for Lindsay, Will Gourgouvelis tied the game in dramatic fashion. The Muskies defense made an errant pass that ended up on Gourgouvelis’ stick, which he then ripped a bullet past Fraser to put the teams at even odds again. 

While the two teams fought and fought, the deadlock continued into the third stanza. 

With the Huskies down a man, Solarino took upon himself to score a goal fit for the highlight reel. After Fraser came out to play the puck, Solarino was able to pick pocket the goalie and fire the shot into the empty net as two Lindsay players dove to try and block it. 

The goal set the visiting fans afire, and after a Muskies onslaught for a late game equalizer, the Huskies proved too much to handle.