Post by QC Mike on Mar 3, 2021 21:30:30 GMT -7
The Titans traveled to the Quad Cities to start their tie. The Q-Men were hoping for a better showing after opening losses to the defending Cup Champion Rangers where the Quarrymen had been unable to generate much in the way of offense. Things appeared to be off to a good start on the opening shift with Nick Schmaltz generating a glorious scoring chance only to have John Marino capitalize on a Quarrymen give away a minute later. The Titans held a slight edge in play but Philip Grubauer was holding the home team in the game until just before the end of the period when Jack Eichel was sent in on a break and his snap shot beat the Q-Men goalie low blocker side to send Cremona into the break up 2-0.
The second period saw the home team struggle with the long change and hand all the momentum to the Titans, the rink heavily tilted in their favour. Against the run of play however, it was Nick Schmaltz opening the scoring for Quad Cities and pulling the home team to within one. Just over a minute later the Titans had stretched their lead to three on quick goals by Auston Matthews and Mikhail Sergachev. Cremona continued to press QC when Elias Lindhom converted a pretty passing play from Claude Giroux and RNH to draw the home side back to within two which is where the period ended, 4-2 Cremona.
The third period saw RNH take the opening faceoff and fire a laser labelled for the top corner when Ilya Samsonov barely got the knob of his stick on the puck before it rattled off both posts before spinning out. The Q-Men seemed to take heart from the near miss and played a much closer third period. With just over five minutes remaining, Ryan Strome managed to split the D and beat Samsonov with a backhander to pull the Quarrymen to within one. Quad City attempted to press the issue but wasn't able to generate anything when, with Grubauer on the bench for an extra attacker, Claude Giroux's one timer with two minutes remaining tied the game and sent it to Overtime.
The Titans controlled the early pace in OT and generated some shots but no real chances when Quad City found their legs and tilted the ice back in their favour. Samsonov denying Ryan Strome's late effort and ensuring an equitable split of the points. Final score 4-4.
Cremona 4 (15 chances from 59 shots) vs. Quad City 4 (8 chances on 32 shots)