Having lost eight of their last 10 games, the Nats went into the past weekend with one goal in mind: putting points on the board. Taking on the lower-ranking Pembroke Lumber Kings and Nepean Raiders was the perfect opportunity to change course and regain some confidence.
The weekend’s first home game against Pembroke on February 10 was undoubtedly a confidence booster. Shutting out the Lumber Kings and putting away five of their own gave the Nats their first two points in more than five games. Victor Barakett, Nicolas White, Yanic Crête, Jordan Prepszl and Kellen Dostaler all added to their stats sheets with a goal each, making the scoreline 5-0 Nats.
But just because they kept the rubber out of the net, doesn’t mean Nats goalie Hadyn Gould was twiddling his thumbs. The man between the posts took 33 shots against and kept the red light from flashing.
Heading to the west-end of Ottawa on Sunday, the Nats sought redemption against the Nepean Raiders who took two points off of them in late January.
The Nats opened the scoring with a second goal on the weekend for Victor Barakett in the first period, but Nepean would take back the lead in the second with two of their own, one on a powerplay.
Losing the lead must have been the kick Rockland needed to wake themselves up, because the third period brought out a different Nats team, unwilling to concede another two points.
Patrick Lanthier kicked off a goal heavy third, followed by another from Nicolas White to take the lead. Though a Raiders goal would break up the streak, Ben Albright and Patrick Lanthier would score again to give the away team a confident 5-3 victory.
Gould stood on his head once again, stopping 34 of 37 shots against, while the Nats found the target on 47 shots of their own.
The Nats will hope to keep up the momentum as they head into another tough stretch, taking on the Smiths Falls Bears February 17, followed by the Navan Grads on Sunday, and the Carleton Place Canadians on Tuesday.
