Of the 15 games the Skaneateles boys ice hockey team has played this winter, five have ended without a resolution.
This trend toward ties continued Thursday night when, in the latest battle of Laker teams, Skaneateles and Cazenovia could not resolve anything in a 2-2 decision at the Morrisville State College IcePlex.
When these same two teams got together Dec. 13 at Allyn Arena, Skaneateles knocked off the reigning state Division II champions 4-2. Since then, it had pulled away from Cazenovia in the Division II standings, staying in second, within range of first-place Oswego.
What’s more, going into the rematch with Cazenovia, Skaneateles had recorded five consecutive shutouts and 16 periods overall without seeing an opponent put a shot into the net.
That streak hit 17 periods as, in the first segment, Skaneateles turned away all of Cazenovia’s chances and moved ahead, 1-0, on Jake Cooney’s goal.
But Cazenovia ended that long shutout streak with sheer tenacity, keeping the puck in the opponent’s end for long stretches of the second period, Skaneateles unable to clear it out. In one of those instances, Brian Gara stuck a rebound past Trevor Diamond to tie it, 1-1.
At first, Skaneateles reacted well, blanking Cazenovia the rest of the period and reclaiming a 2-1 lead 28 seconds into the third period, Jim Rodgers converting off a two-on-one breakaway and a deft pass from Brendan Major.
But Cazenovia resumed the attack, again outworking Skaneateles for loose pucks, especially in front of Diamond, from where David Marshall’s rebound goal forged another deadlock.
Major had the best chance to win it in regulation, but Cazenovia goalie Joey Vecchiarelli scooped up his on-target slap shot with 1:08 left, and in overtime neither side could break the tie.
Only the work of Diamond, who finished with 38 saves, kept Skaneateles from paying for all of its struggles thwarting Cazenovia’s attack.
Overall, the Lakers are 9-1-5, its 18 points leaving them in second place as it worked toward next Thursday’s showdown with Oswego at Crisafulli Rink, preceded by a home date with Fulton.
