The Wellington Dukes are making positive steps to try and get back to their winning ways.
The Dukes snapped a seven-game losing skid, but are still searching for their first win in eight contests after deadlocking with the Burlington Cougars at three goals apiece on Sunday afternoon.
Following a goalless first period, the Western Conference Cougars got on the board first on Sean-Matthew Goyette’s goal at 4:51 of the second period.
Wellington responded through Ethan Murray’s seventh of the year, converting on a rebound at 9:42 from Sacha Trudel and Justin Doak to tie the game.
The Dukes grabbed the lead later in the frame when Christian Armstrong completed a coast-to-coast rush on a powerplay for his third of the season, assisted by Landon Marleau (first point as a Duke) and Evan Erwin.
Burlington knotted the score to start a bit of a back-and-forth in the third period, with Reid Forster finding the net behind Dukes AP goalie Nolan Hardy.
The Dukes retook the lead on Zach Mascard’s ninth of the season, assisted by Blake Berthiaume and Cole Ellis, but the Cougars weren’t about to slink away.
Ethan Brassard beat Hardy with 3:23 remaining in regulation to force bonus hockey.
A competitive pair of overtime periods went by without a goal, even as the Dukes outshot Burlington 6-1 in the second OT and the game ended in a stalemate.
The 15-year-old Hardy had 35 saves in an outstanding junior hockey debut as the Cougars outshot Wellington 38-34.
The Dukes are now 7-6-1-2 with 17 points on the campaign and will aim for a win on the road Thursday, when they cross the border to meet the Buffalo Jr. Sabres at 3:30 p.m.
(BROCK ORMOND)
