Spokane Public Enemy No. 1-1
Key play
Remember the name, or failing that, at least his number.
It’s 11.
That’s the painful image Spokane Chiefs fans must carry throughout the off-season.
It was Guelph’s lesser-known No. 11, who also answers to Lindsay Plunkett, who chipped in a redirected pass from the corner to eliminate the host Chiefs 2-1 in overtime Saturday in the Memorial Cup tournament semifinal.
Until then, Plunkett was just No. 11 - a first-year, fourth-line player who moved into the third line during postseason play when teammate Andrew Long injured himself in the Ontario Hockey League finals.
Plunkett, a utility forward who celebrated his 18th birthday Tuesday, broke a 1-1 tie at 7:34 in the sudden-death overtime. The victory placed the Storm in today’s title game against the favored Portland Winter Hawks.
That quick turnaround doesn’t give the Ontario League champions much chance to revel in their semifinal victory. Plunkett, however, will long be able to relive the magic moment that made the Chiefs disappear despite their big edge in shots on goal.
“The faceoff in the corner was kind of scrappy,” Plunkett explained of the game-winner. “The puck went off someone’s skate in the corner and onto Matt Lahey’s stick.
“I was going to the net and it just kind of reflected off my stick.”
It was Plunkett’s second goal of the Memorial Cup. He scored against Portland in last week’s round-robin play after the 6-2 game already had been decided in favor of Portland.
Saturday, both teams failed to score in the second and third periods. Plunkett’s goal came moments after his line had missed a change.
“It (the game-winning play) felt like it was kind of in slow motion, like the puck was never going to make it to my stick,” he said.
But when it got there, Plunkett was at close range and easily put the puck past Chiefs goalie David Haun.
Said Storm coach George Burnett of Plunkett: “Anytime there was a guy down or we needed a lift, he’s the guy you could put in at right wing, left wing, center. And he rose to every challenge that was presented to him this year.
“It’s nice to see him be the beneficiary today.”