Sudbury Falls Short Against Norsemen, Lose 2-1...

Shea Theodore 

Miners lack of offence hurts, lose 2-1. 

CANADIAN PRESS (Sudbury, ON)

Ivan Provorov’s unassisted goal in the early in the second period would stand up as the winner, as the Minnesota Norsemen beat the Sudbury Miners, 2-1 at the Vale Centre on Tuesday night. 

Tyler Seguin also scored for Minnesota, which had lost two straight prior to last night’s contest.  Goalie Pekka Rinne made 32 saves in the net for the Norsemen, for his 17th victory of the season.

The Norsemen took a 1-0 lead at 17:38 into the first period when Seguin poked the puck away from Miner's winger Radim Vrbata at the red-line and skated in all alone on Miners goalie Jake Allen.  His backhand deke fooled Allen and gave Seguin his 18th goal of the year.

The Norsemen would extend their lead early in the second period.  After another Miner's turnover in the neutral zone, this time by Miner's defenseman Damon Severson, Norseman defenceman Ivan Provorov picked up the loose puck and hammered home a slap shot past Allen to make it 2-0 after two periods.

Matt Calvert would pull one back for the Miners in the third; Philip Danault and Jordie Benn drawing the assists.  But that was all the Miners could muster as Rinne shut the door the rest of the way for the win.

The Miners outshot the Norsemen 33-29 on the night.

Of note, Miner's defenceman Shea Theodore suffered a neck injury early in the first period last night.  He had to be stretchered off the ice as a precautionary measure.  He gave the fans at the Vale Centre the “thumbs up” as he left the ice.  He is expected out of the line-up for two weeks.


MINERS NUGGETS

- Despite scoring their only goal with the man advantage, the Miners power play continues to sit last overall in the CCHL. 

- Forward Anthony Duclair continues his rehab in Sudbury and is progressing nicely.  He was seen skating at the Vale Centre on Tuesday morning and should be available in a couple of days.

- The Miners’ players were not available for comment after last night as they were in a rush to catch a charter flight to Las Vegas.  They will “try their luck” against the Aces on Thursday night.