Johnston Stops 28/31 in First Career Start as Petes Fall in Shootout to Frontenacs

PHOTO: Robert John Boucher

 

After a tough loss at the hands of the Brantford Bulldogs the night before, the Peterborough Petes were right back at it in Kingston for a Friday night matchup with the Eastern Conference leading Kingston Frontenacs. Peterborough native, Masen Johnston, would be in between the pipes for the Petes, picking up his first career OHL start.

 

It was not the start that Peterborough was looking for, as for the second straight night they would concede on the first shot against. Despite the early Kingston lead, Peterborough kept on fighting. Six minutes after the goal, with a man advantage, Colin Fitzgerald beat Kingston goaltender, Mason Vaccari, to tie the game at 1-1. Jonathan Melee picked up the primary assist on the goal, marking his 100th career OHL point. The game didn’t stay tied for long. Just 38 seconds later, Kingston scored once again to regain their lead. In the dying minutes of the period, Quinton Pagé snuck a puck through Vaccari to tie the game back up heading into the intermission.

 

After a scoreless second period, the Frontenacs would once again take the lead back in the third, this time scoring on the power play to make it 3-2. Late in the period, with a power play of their own, the Petes tied it for the third time on a goal from Gavin Bryant. With no one able to win it in overtime, the game would go to a shootout. After the first six skaters failed to get on the board, Matthew Soto broke the deadlock, winning the game for Kingston by a score of 4-3.

 

Masen Johnston led the way for the Petes, stopping 28/31 and 3/4 in the shootout in his first career OHL start. Colin Fitzgerald and Quinton Pagé both scored and had an assist. Gavin Bryant scored, while Carson Cameron, Brennan Faulkner, and Braydon McCallum each had an assist. Jonathan Melee also had an assist in the game, picking up his 100th career OHL point.

 

Game Recap:

 

First Period:

 

• Kingston Goal (2:15) – Cedrick Guindon (11), Assists – Ethan Miedema (17), Emil Pieniniemi (20)
• Peterborough Goal (8:04) – Colin Fitzgerald (5), Assists – Jonathan Melee (4), Carson Cameron (7)
• Kingston Goal (8:42) – Matthew Soto (10), Assists – Jacob Battaglia (18), Emil Pieniniemi (21)
• Peterborough Goal (15:14) – Quinton Pagé (3), Assists – Colin Fitzgerald (4), Brennan Faulkner (2)

 

Second Period:

 

• No Score

 

Third Period:

 

• Kingston Goal (12:26) – Cedrick Guindon (12), Assists – Jacob Battaglia (19), Matthew Soto (10)
• Peterborough Goal (15:15) – Gavin Bryant (2), Assists – Quinton Pagé (1), Braydon McCallum (5)

 

Overtime Period:

 

• No Score

 

Shootout:

 

• KGN – Jacob Battaglia (No Goal)
• PBO – Caden Taylor (No Goal)
• KGN – Cedrick Guindon (No Goal)
• PBO – Colin Fitzgerald (No Goal)
• KGN – Ethan Miedema (No Goal)
• PBO – Nico Addy (No Goal)
• KGN – Matthew Soto (Goal)
• PBO – Carson Cameron (No Goal)

 

The Petes are back in action on Saturday, November 23, when they host the North Bay Battalion. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at the Peterborough Memorial Centre. Tickets for the game are still available by clicking here, calling (705) 743-3561, or by visiting the Grant Thornton Box Office during business hours. The game will also be broadcasted on YourTV Peterborough and Freq 90.5.