Condors frustrated in loss to Mustangs

Richard Tardif…Former Condor goaltender Jean-Philippe Boucher returned to haunt his old teammates backstopping the Mustangs to a 5-2 victory last night at the Complex. The Condors directed 12 shots towards Boucher in the first period who stood his ground, allowing only power forward Patrick Lapostolle, scoring his 38th goal, to beat him.

A good part of the first period was the number of shots that either missed the net or never made it to Boucher.

Nevertheless, the Condors began the second period leading 1-0, but near the end of a power play at 6:20, another former Condor involved in last December’s mega-trade deal with the Mustangs, Philippe Lauzon, jumped out of the penalty box after the Condor defense were unable to corral the puck. Lauzon broke in alone, beating Condor starter Maxime Belanger. 

Later in the period, Belanger was run over by his own player leaving the right side of the net open. The goaltender didn’t have time to return to his position before the Mustangs jumped on the opportunity. 

Lapostolle scored his second of the game (39th) to tie it late in the third, but it was the Mustangs who were playing with more emotion – evident in their back checking which resulted in a centre ice turnover and quick forward pass for another Mustang breakaway and another goal. The eventual score was 5-2 in favour of the Mustangs.