The Kanata Stallions encounter a lot of those quirky evenings when the CJHL-leading Pembroke Lumber Kings are in town.

“We always want to win,” said Stallions assistant captain Barry Roytman. “But there is always a bit of doubt when we play them.

“We start playing good, then something goes bad. Always.”

The Lumber Kings (15-2-2) picked up two wins in a double-header at the Kanata Recreation Centre, defeating Kanata (9-3-10) 3-2 and 6-3 on Tuesday night, Nov. 11.

Kanata has yet to pick up a win against the Lumber Kings this season.

The two teams started the evening playing the final 13 minutes of a game postponed on Oct. 28 due to a power-outage at the KRC, with Pembroke leading 2-1.

But with one minute left to play, Kyle Fletcher tied the score and moved the game into overtime, with Pembroke eventually winning in a shootout.

The start of the second game didn’t bode well for Kanata, when forward Chris Martin had to leave the game briefly in the first period to remove a sliver from his foot.

Pembroke pulled ahead early in the first, scoring twice, with goals from Andy Starczewski and Sean Crozier.

Kanata’s David Borden made it a one-goal game, scoring on the power play with five minutes left in the first, with assists from Shayne Thompson and Roytman.

Pembroke pulled ahead again early in the second period, with a goal from Caz Cantrell.

But the Stallions picked up steam later in the frame, and were rewarded with a goal from Derek Froats.

With two minutes left in the period, Brett Ashton was streaking towards the Lumber Kings net on a breakaway, when he was tripped by Tyler Tosunian.

On the ensuing penalty shot, Ashton roofed the puck past Smith, tying the score.

After clawing back to a 3-3 tie, the momentum briefly shifted Kanata’s way.

Briefly.

With one minute left to play in the second and the Stallions on the power play, Kanata’s forwards peppered Smith with shots, eager for the go-ahead goal.

But a costly penalty in the period’s last 10 seconds took the wind out of Kanata’s sails.

Defenceman Brad Bussey smashed Lumber King Mike Santee against the boards, slamming the Lumber King’s head against the glass.

Santee fell to the ice like he was shot and a teammate had to help him to the dressing room.

The hit earned the Stallions a five-minute major and Bussey was ejected from the game.

The minute-munching defenceman joined teammate Fletcher in the stands, who had been ejected early in the first for checking from behind.

“We took a penalty and that gave them momentum back,” said Stallions head coach Justin Nistico. “We have to play for 60 minutes and we can’t take a shift off and continue to make costly mistakes.”

The Stallions started off the third by killing the five-minute major, taking advantage of a lackluster Pembroke attack.

At one point during the power play head coach Sheldon Keefe shouted at his players to “Get off!”

Pembroke scored the game winner nine minutes into the third, with Starczewski shooting from the point through traffic, sending the goal between Stallion goaltender Stephane Cesar’s legs.

Santee, who returned to the ice at the beginning of the period, earned some revenge later in the third when he robbed Shayne Thompson of the puck in the Stallions end, scoring an easy breakaway goal.

Vince Perrault put the icing on a 6-3 victory with an empty net goal.

“I thought we played well,” said Nistico. “They’re just a good team – they were the championship team last year.”

Pembroke earned four points in the double-header.

“I think that’s a first,” said Keefe. “It was a long night and it was worth it.”

The Lumber Kings defeated the Stallions 3-2 at the Pembroke Memorial Centre on Nov. 7. Kanata will host the Nepean Raiders on Nov. 14, with the game starting at 7:30 p.m. at the KRC and then travel to the Earl Armstrong Arena to play the Gloucester Rangers on Nov. 16. They will play the Rangers again at the KRC on Tuesday, Nov. 18, with the game starting at 7:30 p.m.