One to go!!!

The Norwich Merchants are one win away from a Niagara league title after winning game four 4-3. Game 5 goes in Norwich Saturday night at 7:30.

Grimsby opened the scoring when Steve Manojovik would score a powerplay goal at 10:52. Norwich would tie at 13:23 on one of the more uglier goals you will ever see. Dan O'Hearn's pointshot would go wide of the net but would bounce off of the dasher board and deflect into the net off of Grimsby goalie Brad Pope and into the net. Norwich would take a 2-1 lead at 19:10 and bang in a loose puck past Pope. Norwich would outshoot Grimsby in the period 13-11.

Grimsby would tie it midway into the second period when Kyle Fraser would hammer home a loose puck from the top of the circle past a screened Cody Vinnai. Grimsby would grab the lead on the power play at the 17 minute mark when Chris Lane's pointshot would find the inside of the post past a screened Vinnai. Chad Barclay would tie it for Norwich 29 seconds later when he banged in his own rebound. Norwich would score the winner two minutes later on the powerplay when Sean McLeod would drive to the front of the net and slide a backhander past Pope. The shots in the second period were 7-7.

Norwich spent the third period playing dump and chase while wearing down and frustrating the Grimsby team. Norwich out shot Grimsby in the third 8-3 and 28-21 for the game.

Looking ahead at Game 5 for Grimsby you have to wonder who Dave Brownridge will start in goal, Brad Pope looked human in Game 4 and gave up 3 softies, and Mike Tardif got yanked in Game 3. Not a spot I'd want to be in knowing that my season is on the line.