The Clarenville Caribous came out on top at their first home game of the season Saturday night, defeating the Conception Bay North Cee Bee Stars 6-4.
The Cee Bees were first on the scoreboard with a powerplay goal by Ray Dalton at 9:05 in the first period. That lead held to the end of the period and the Caribous headed to the dressing room to rethink strategy.
The period saw the teams with equal chances to score; shots on goal were six each.
The second period saw a little more action around the Cee Bees net as the Caribous ratcheted up their offensive play.
Dale Sullivan, assisted by Matt Bragg and Mike Stevens, tied it up at 3:59 in the second and Brad Crann, assisted by Mark Roebothan and Chris Huilit moved them ahead 2-1 with a goal at 9:16.
Huilit, assisted by David Victor and Mark Roebothan, pushed the Caribous to 3-1 with a point at 17:12 and with just over a minute left in the third Matt Bragg took a pass from Dale Sullivan to make it 4-1 in favour of the Caribous.
The Cee Bee Stars were not ready to call it a night yet, however. They kept pressing and were rewarded with just one second left in the period when Ray Dalton fired one past Jason Churchill to narrow the gap 4-2.
During the second period the Caribous made 17 attemps on the Cee Bees net, while the Stars had just 10 chances against the Caribous.
Six minutes into the third period the Cee Bees got another point against Churchill, to narrow the gap 4-3.
The Caribous were quick to reply.
Chris Huilit and Mike Stevens got control of the puck off the face-off and whipped it to Mark Roebothan who made it 5-3 for Clarenville.
With just a couple minutes left on the clock, the Caribous scored again to make it 6-4.
A few seconds after the face off the Cee Bees responded with a point.
With 17 seconds left on the clock the Cee Bees then decided to take the risk of pulling the goaltender in an effort to tie the game and force overtime.
However, the Caribous managed to clear the puck from their end and find the empty-net mark to win this battle 6-4.
Both teams meet again today at 1:30 p.m. at the Clarenville Events Centre.
