Considering the key absences from their lineup this weekend, the Picton Pirates were doing well to earn a split of games between the Lakefield Chiefs and Trent Hills Thunder.

On pace to tie up a four point game at home in the late going, a sure Picton goal was washed out by the officiating crew. Picton dropped the contest 7-4.

But on Sunday, the club bounced back on the road and shaded the host Thunder 4-3 in overtime.

With the win, Picton moved their record to 8-4-2, good enough for second place in the Tod Division with 18 points.

“We’ve been battling short-staffed, missing up to 10 full-time players in both games this week,” Pirates Bench Boss Jamie Lane said. “We’ve asked a lot from our rookies and APs, as well as our veterans, to step up and carry a bigger load. When you’re up against a strong team like Lakefield, you need a full lineup, but the guys competed hard and created plenty of chances.”

Big Time Effort

On Sunday, the club received a big effort in net as rookie goaltender Nick Parodo made 36 saves for his second win of the campaign.

“Nick is a graduate of the affiliated program we’re building here in Picton. He was an AP last year and now he’s stepped in as our backup goalie,” the coach said. “Nick’s showing he’s ready to take the wheel in the years ahead.”

Picton’s Colby Leaver got the locals off on the right foot in the first Sunday when his seeing eye shot beat Thunder starter Christain Lambert at 12:31.

Former Pirate Owen Ellis set up Trenton native Jack Andrews at 16:26 to square the affair at 1-1 but Picton might have had a sense things were going to go their way late in the first. With time winding down in the first, captain Gerrit Kempers spotted defenceman Cole Mulder in the high slot.

The rangy rearguard let a low shot go at the Trent Hills net and, on the way to the twine tent, Keenan Wiles put his stick on the volley, tipping past Mr. Lambert with 24 seconds left in the frame.

The clubs traded goals in the second.

Mr. Mulder picked up a power play goal off a Ben Smith feed just 2:54 into the second to make it 3-1 for the visitors.

But the Thunder rumbled back at the 8:54 mark when Gavin Wallace potted his first of two.

Overtime is Showtime

Tied 3-3 at the end of regulation, Mr. Parodo came up big with a few saves of Trent Hills transition plays.

At the midway point of the three-on-three period, Picton developed a cycle play in Trent Hills end that resulted in Luc Amat finding Owen Findlay driving to the net.

The former Campbellford Rebel went high over Mr. Lambert’s shoulder at 3:31 of overtime to send the visiting contingent home happy.

Strange Brew

There was little joy in Little Spain Thursday. The Pirates were sure they were within striking distance in the late going. But the Lakefield netminder seemed to be very adept at stopping pucks in nets that strangely were dislodged when the play around the goal mouth got frantic.

A blown call with under six minutes left was finally enough for Picton to blow their stack.

“By our count, the Lakefield net came off ten times while ours didn’t move once,” Mr. Lane noted. “It’s very tough to find rhythm in that kind of game.”

Mr. Kempers had a pair of goals for Picton while Caleb Martin and Nate Woods picked up singles.

Picton hosts Amherstview on Thursday then travel to Frankford to play the Huskies Saturday night.

The locals are off to Lakefield Tuesday.