JT Miller’s backhand stuff in a shootout proved to be the deciding goal as the Blues defeated the Whites, 5-4, in this morning’s scrimmage at Plymouth Whalers training camp at .
The game – consisting of two 30-minute periods – was tied at 4-4, so the final outcome was decided by a sudden-death shootout. Before Miller’s game-winner, Ryan Hartman scored for the Whites and Connor Sills for the Blues in the shootout.
The Whites came back from a 4-1 deficit in the second half to tie the game and take it into the sudden-death shootout. The pace of the game picked up perceptibly in the second half as the Whites staged their comeback.
Returning veteran Michael Whaley paced the Whites’ comeback with a pair of second-half goals (at 9:30 and 12:05, respectively). Garrett Meurs tied the game for the Whites at 14:50 of the half.
Earlier, Hartman scored the first goal of the game at 3:30 of the first-half to give the Whites a 1-0 lead.
But the Blues stormed back to take a 3-1 lead in the first-half on goals by Tom Wilson, Cody Payne and Stefan Noesen.
First round pick Zach Bratina scored on a penalty shot at 6:25 of the second half to give the Blues a 4-1 lead before the Whites came back to tie the game.
Alex Nedeljkovic played the entire game in goal for the Whites and allowed four goals. Matt Mahalak played the first half in goal for the Blues and allowed one goal. Riley Corbin played in the second half for the Blues and allowed three goals.
AFTERNOON SCRIMMAGE CANCELLED: The Whalers have canceled this afternoon’s scrimmage and will practice instead at 2 p.m. in preparation for Saturday’s night’s opening preseason game against Windsor at Yack Arena at 7 p.m.
Billed as the “Duel Downriver”, tickets for the game can be purchased by calling the Wyandotte Hockey Association at (734) 341-5893.
The game will be broadcast on 88.1FM WSDP The Park and onwww.plymouthwhalers.com starting at 7 pm.
THE REST OF THE PRESEASON: Plymouth will play in Windsor on Monday afternoon at Windsor Family Credit Union Centre at 2 p.m. and then finishes the preseason with two games with the London Knights on Sept. 7 at London at the John Labatt Centre and Sept. 8 against London in St. Thomas, Ontario.
The Whalers open the regular season on Sept. 21 in Sault Ste. Marie against the Greyhounds, with the home opener set for Sept. 22 at 7:05 p.m. against Belleville at Compuware Arena.
Tickets for all Plymouth Whalers games can be purchased by calling the Compuware Arena box office at (734) 453-8400.
