The Wellington Dukes played like they waited all week for their match up with the visiting Oakville Blades on Sunday night.

A week of inactivity was shaken off in a flash. The locals lit the lamp a handful of times in the opening 20 minutes en route to a 5-1 romp. With the win, the Dukes moved their record to 12-10-6, good enough for 30 points. The Haliburton Huskies lead the Dukes by a single point and are in Wellington Friday night for a four point affair. Sole possession of fifth place in the Ontario Junior Hockey League’s East Conference will be on the line.

Off and Skating

The Dukes got the goal train rolling at 3:12 as Vince Albanese fed a cross crease pass to Zach Carrier who had a tap-in for the Kingston native’s 17^th of the season.

Wellington would make hay on a pair of power plays as the Blades beat a path to the sin bin.

With a 5-on-3 man advantage, Zach Mascard was on the doorstep of Oakville’s braided broom closet to tuck home the eventual game winner at the 6:01 mark.

Afforded another 5-on-3 advantage, Tristan Williams had a big blast from the blue line and bulged twine behind Oakville starter Alex Armellin at 7:51.

If there was any doubt this wouldn’t be Wellington’s night, that notion was erased at the midway point of the frame. Off a blocked shot, Blake Berthiaume chopped the puck at the Oakville net and it dribbled to the stick of Landon Marleau alone in the slot. Mr. Marleau put a deke move on Mr. Armellin that the netminder bought and paid for and Wellington had its fourth of the frame. The two offspring of retired NHLers may have connected for a scoring play or two previously this season but none as pretty as Mr. Marleau’s 8^th of the campaign.

Oakville’s Lucas Tye would answer with a power play goal at 13:08 but Mr. Mascard doubled down with his second man advantage marker of the frame just over two minutes later.

Neither side would hit the score sheet over the remaining 40 minutes.

In the Wellington end, Colby Booth-Housego turned aside 36 volleys for his sixth win of the season.

After hosting Haliburton on Friday evening, the Dukes welcome Aurora to Lehigh Arena Sunday for a 1:30 p.m. affair.