www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday February 4, 2009 - 33 Blades send message with victory over division leaders By Jon Kuiperij have a more solid core than they do." The Blades' core now includes Tyler Leimbrock and Chris Muise, two players Having been to last year's national junior A Oakville didn't have for any of the previous hockey championship tournament, returning meetings with the Raiders. Leimbrock drew members of the Oakville Blades already knew assists on all five Blades' goals versus what it takes to win in the playoffs. Georgetown, including one by Muise. Now that this season's additions appear to Oakville head coach Carlo Coccimiglio said be figuring it out as well, there's plenty of opti- Leimbrock and Muise, the Brampton Capitals' mism in the Blades' room about another run at top two scorers before being dealt to the Blades the RBC Royal Bank Cup. a month ago, have bought into Oakville's team Oakville looked playoff-ready Friday at concept. Joshua's Creek Arenas, riding a three-goal "It takes time to adjust to our system. We effort by Luke Moodie and some don't have a normal system," said solid netminding from Matt "We wanted to Coccimiglio. "They're starting to Hache to a 5-2 victory over the beat them to send buy in. In Brampton, they had MacKinnon Division-leading a message that free rein. They're starting to realGeorgetown Raiders. ize they have to play defence to we're not going to The win was the Blades' first get the puck back and create over Georgetown in four meet- be pushovers offence." ings between the teams this sea- come playoffs." Hache was also key in the win son. The Raiders outscored LES KAPUSCINSKI / SPECIAL TO THE OAKVILLE BEAVER over the Raiders. After allowing a Oakville 20-7 in the first three Luke Moodie weak goal 3:29 into the game, the RIVALS: Georgetown's Daniel Gubert (left) and Oakville's Adam Simms exchange blows during Friday's contests. 20-year-old was steady the rest of physical Ontario Junior Hockey League clash at Joshua's Creek Arenas. Oakville defeated the Raiders 5-2. "Before the game, we said we wanted to beat the way -- particularly on a Georgetown twoassists... Oakville's first-round playoff opponent them to send a message that we're not going to man advantage in the third period -- and p.m. starts at Joshua's Creek Arenas. NOTES: Georgetown defeated Buffalo in will almost certainly be either the Brampton be pushovers come playoffs," said Moodie, who stopped 45 of 47 shots. overtime Monday, virtually clinching first place Capitals or Milton, whoever finishes lower in took over the team lead in goals (37) the fol"It wouldn't have been as convincing (a win) lowing evening in the Blades' 7-3 triumph over if we didn't have a goalie like Matt Hache," in the division standings. The Raiders (39-6-1) the standings. Milton has a two-point lead on are three points ahead of the Blades (38-8) and the Caps for sixth place in the division, and the Mississauga Chargers. "We're hopefully Moodie said. "He was outstanding." each team had three games remaining going both teams have two games left... If going to face (the Raiders) in the playoffs. All The Blades hosted the Buffalo Jr. Sabres last into last night's action... Dustin Alcock had Georgetown finishes first, it would face either the guys in the room want to face them." night (Tuesday), making up a game that was Oakville defenceman Dan Hunt sounded postponed Dec. 19 because of snow. Oakville Oakville's other goal against Georgetown, and Mississauga or the Bramalea Blues. added another against Mississauga. Chris Mississauga is a point ahead of Bramalea for even more confident following Friday's game. will conclude the regular season this weekend "They know they can beat us, but if we face with two more home games, Friday against Rocca, Ryan Murphy, Sean Teakle, Kyle the eighth and final playoff spot in the divithem in the playoffs it will be a big series," he Mississauga and Saturday against the Milton Badham and Lindsay Sparks also tallied against sion, with three games remaining for both said. "We should take them because I think we IceHawks. Both contests are slated for 7:30 the Chargers, and Leimbrock had three teams. 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