The opening period started with some fireworks.  Two minutes into the period, a Wayzata shift hit the ice just as the puck came into the center of the OMG blue line.  The Trojans’ Brayden Nelson ended up with the puck breaking into the slot and buried it to Wayzata ahead 1-0.  Jimmy Ostapeic got the assist.

OMG's Alec Zejdlik's shot beats the goalie but is about to hit the crossbar and rebound into the upper net out of play.

OMG’s Alec Zejdlik’s shot beats the goalie but is about to hit the crossbar and rebound into the upper net out of play.

Thirty seconds later, OMG’s Trevor Kukkonen tied the game 1-1 on a shot from the right side face off circle.  Trevor Janicke got the assist.

A key play in the game came next.  It came early, but set the tone for the play in the first period.

Wayzata’s forwards beat the OMG defense on rush, but couldn’t beat the goalie.  The puck was stopped short of the net and left dancing at the top of the OMG crease.  OMG’s Tyler Kostelecky scooped the puck up and took off down the left boards, skated right into the Trojans’ goalie unimpeded, and banged the puck home to put the Crimson up 2-1.  Miles Ezell got the assist.

After that score, the OMG team constantly established puck control in the Wayzata zone.  They would move the puck as if on the power play, but couldn’t beat the Trojan’s defense and goalie Bailey Huber for the next four minutes.

With just under 5 minutes left in the opening period, frustration finally got to the Trojan’s defense.  A defender tried to feather a puck from behind the net to a wing on the right boards.  Instead, OMG’s Ezell stepped up, intercepted the pass and one timed into the net to put OMG up 3-1.  This time, Kostelecky got the assist.

As the first period wound down, the Trojans finally pressured the Crimson in the OMG zone; but OMG’s goalie Parker Slotsve made some good stops.  The period ended with OMG leading 3-1.

The first half of the second period was a wild affair.  Both teams went all out on the offensive creating a fast paced transitional game with shots on goal, but nobody scored.

Wayzata was starting to dominate the play at the 6 minute mark, when a puck came loose in the slot on the Trojans’ zone.  OMG’s Kukkonen won the race and one-timed the puck into the Wayzata goal to put OMG up 4-1.  Then Janicke and Kukkonen took over.  In the next two minutes, Janicke scored twice with Kukkonen assisting.

The first goal was a power play goal that was deflected in front of the Wayzata’s goalie.  Ezell and Kukkonen got the assists and OMG led 5-1.  Thirty seconds later, Janicke’s shot from the from the left side climbed the Trojan’s goalie Huber’s left shoulder and fell into the right side of the crease.  Kukkonen closed on the right side and tapped the puck into the open goal.  The period ended with OMG leading 6-1.

Both teams struggled at times in the third period.  OMG played more defensively, but the Wayzata attack slowed.  OMG scored at the 5 minute mark.  Janicke got his third goal of the game.  Jack Dorholt and Connor Winkelman got the assists.  OMG added another goal with 30 seconds left in the game to end the scoring 8-1.

Wayzata’s AA team has speed in their forwards.  But last night, the OMG forwards matched them in speed and had an advantage in size.  They used that to slow the Trojans attack and force them wide on their rushes.

More importantly, OMG had the advantage in quickness which gave the Crimson an advantage in what is called here the inner loop or close in skills.  Both teams matched each other at the skill level in execution.  But the Crimson were operating on an eight beats to a bar (figuratively speaking) and the Trojans were operating on a seven beats to a bar.  The Crimson won most of the close in fights for puck possession.

Kukkonen scored four points in the game (two goals).  Trevor Janicke got the assist.  Janicke also scored four points in the game (and got a hat trick).

Wayzata AA’s have 10 days off before playing visiting Grand Rapids and visiting Sibley November 17.  OMG returns to D3 action this weekend with a game against North Metro and a scrimmage with D10’s Rogers.