Lynnden Pastachak had a pair of points in less than a 10 minute span. Pic - Colby Brochu Photography
Lynnden Pastachak had a pair of points in less than a 10 minute span. Pic - Colby Brochu Photography
Posted: Mar 15, 2019

Griffins shade Kings in double-overtime, take game one of semi-final

Brent Forster – RDC

Edmonton, AB – The visiting Red Deer College Kings had an energetic start to game one of the best of three semi-final against the MacEwan University Griffins, skating out to a three goal lead, but the Griffins chipped away at the deficit. The home team tied it in the second period and eventually downed the Kings 4-3 in double-overtime.

After missing the series against the Concordia University Thunder due to injury, Kings' regular season scoring leader Chase Thudium was back, and he made an early impact. From the half-boards, Dylan Thudium spotted his brother open in front and Chase wristed it past an outstretched Marc-Olivier Daigle at 4:17 of the first period. Lynnden Pastachak added the secondary assist.

While shorthanded, Tanner Butler jumped into the play and the regular season Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) defencemen points leader beat a Griffins' defender and then Daigle on the backhand at 13:07. Chance Longjohn had the lone assist.

Captain Tanner Butler (24) Pic - Colby Brochu Photography

Only 48 seconds later, the RDC Kings capitalized on a MacEwan turnover to increase their margin to three goals. On a three-on-one, Lynnden Pastachak fed Dylan Thudium in the high slot and the fourth-year centre from Sylvan Lake quickly released a shot past Daigle.

Dylan Thudium (13) Pic - Colby Brochu Photography

Before the end of the period, the Griffins reduced the lead to one. In just over a four minute span, Garan Magnes and Brett Njaa potted goals past Troy Trombley.

Late in the second on the power play, Brett Njaa scored his second of the game to knot the contest 3-3.

After a perfect third period and ten minutes of overtime from both goaltenders, the game went to 20 minutes of double-overtime when third-year Griffins' defenceman Tyler Morrison scored the winner with bodies in front of Trombley. The MacEwan University Griffins picked up a 4-3 decision, striking first in the series. 

Lynnden Pastachak, a Kinesiology student from Bienfait, Saskatchewan, was selected as the Kings Player-of-the-Game.  Marc-Olivier Daigle was recognized as the Griffins' top player, stopping 48 out of 51 shots.

Trombley turned aside 42 shots (0.913).

The Red Deer College Kings went 0-for-2 on the power play. The Griffins struck once in five tries with the man advantage.

On Friday at 7:00 p.m., the RDC Kings will host the MacEwan University Griffins in a must win game at the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre for game two of the best of three semi-final.