Jonathon Brodie - Recorder & Times

They say in this world nothing can be said to be certain except death and taxes. You might be able to add the way the Brockville Braves lose to the Ottawa Jr. Senators to that list as well.

Friday’s game at the Memorial Centre between the teams only solidified that point with the Braves losing 2-1 late in double overtime to now go down 2-0 in the best-of-seven quarter-final series.

Brockville also lost Game 1 2-1 in overtime on Wednesday.

“We’re definitely still in the series,” said Braves general manger Dustin Traylen. “With both games going to overtime they could have gone either way, so we’ll wake up tomorrow with a fresh start.”

Brockville took a 1-0 lead when Jack Gill scored in the second period. Early into the third period Ottawa evened things up with a goal by Zachary Cross before 16-year-old Jackson Alexeev put home the game winner with less than three minutes left in the second overtime.

The way the storyline played out for the Braves against the Senators is becoming somewhat predictable.

Get a lead. Lose the lead. Lose the game.

Ottawa hasn’t actually led for one second of this series, but they’ve won two overtime games and they’re up 2-0.

Brockville has led for 27:23 of this series and still have yet to hold on for a win.

This is how it’s been for the Braves all season.

Brockville led Ottawa for 1 hour, 56 minutes and 6 seconds in the regular season and still couldn’t pull out a win in six games against them. The Senators were ahead on the scoreboard for 59 minutes and 58 seconds against the Braves in the regular season.

“For me, we’ve been in every game we’ve played. We’ve lost in overtime and shootouts. Twice now in the playoffs, legitimately we could have won two of these games and been up 2-0. That’s the consolation that you take from it and that’s that,” Traylen said. “As soon as we can break through they better watch out. It’s a seven game series for a reason.”

Ottawa had plenty of chances to take the lead Friday.

Brockville goalie HenryJohnson was an absolute monster in the game. In the first period things were fairly tame for him, but as the game went on the more acrobatic the two-time CCHL goalie of the year became.

It was the 75th shot that ended up getting by Johnson and claiming the game winner.

The Braves, on the other hand, finished the game with 37 shots. The Senators hit the 37 shot mark with time to spare in the third period.

“(Johnson) is the franchise. Without him this game was over probably well into the second period, but that’s why we have him. That’s why he has a scholarship (at Bemidji State University) and that’s why he’s the best goalie in this league two years running,” Traylen said. “For us, we don’t get any second chances right now. It’s a lot of first shots and the goalie sees everything.”

The Braves will get another chance Saturday for Game 3 on the road. Game 4 will be back in Brockville on Tuesday.

Original story at Recorder.ca