PHN’s Best Shots of the Game: Fayetteville FireAntz at Pensacola Ice Flyers 11/9/12

PENSACOLA, FLA – The Pensacola Ice Flyers met the Fayetteville FireAntz on Friday, November 9th at the Pensacola Bay Center in their first meeting of the season. The Ice Flyers were looking to rebound after a tough, one-goal loss to Louisiana on November 3rd while the FireAntz were determined to continue their three game winning streak. The FireAntz ended up winning the game 4-3 in overtime, even though Pensacola out-shot Fayetteville 35-27 in the contest.
The first period got off to a swift start of hard-hitting action as both teams battled hard to score the first goal. It was the FireAntz who drew first blood when Justin Faryna scored the first goal of the game at the 3:34 mark. Building off the momentum of Faryna‘s tally, FireAntz forward Brandon Richardson buried the puck past Ice Flyers’ goalie Steve Christie to put his team up 2-0 at 5:18 of the opening period.
About seven minutes into the second frame, Ice Flyers’ defenseman Tyler Soehner capitalized on a power play opportunity that brought the Ice Flyers within one of the FireAntz. Just over three minutes later, the Ice Flyers’ Ryan Raven used Soehner’s earlier drive as a blueprint to get the puck past FireAntz goalie Marco Emond to tie the score.
The third period started with the score tied 2-2 with both teams looking to go up by one. Fayetteville’s Tristin Llewellyn scored on Christie with just under six minutes left, putting the FireAntz in a position to win. Three minutes later, Ice Flyers’ captain Leo Thomas got his team back in the game with an unassisted goal that tied the score.
Going into overtime, the Ice Flyers were coming off of the momentum of Thomas tying the score while the FireAntz had the incentive of remaining undefeated pushing them to get the win. Only two minutes into the extra period, FireAntz winger John Clewlow who was able to put a shot high above Christie’s glove hand and into the top corner of the net to win the game.
Fayetteville went 0 for 3 on the power play while Pensacola scored twice on four power play opportunities.

Fayetteville%27s John Clewlow (7%2C black) blocks a shot in front of goalie Marco Emond as Pensacola%27s Ryan Salvis follows the puck.

Fayetteville%27s Brandon Richardson (11%2C black) prepares to make a move on Pensacola defenseman Gabriel Boutin-Gagnon.

Two FireAntz and one Ice Flyer battle for the puck.

Pensacola%27s Gabriel Boutin-Gagnon (2%2C white) and Fayetteville%27s Kyle McNeil go at it at center ice.

Fayetteville goalie Marco Emond (right) and teammate Tristin Llewellyn sandwich Pensacola%27s Ryan Raven along the end boards.

The snow is flying as Ice Flyer Jordan Chong (9%2C white) and Fayetteville%27s Andrew Smale both jam on the breaks.

Pensacola%27s Patrick Knowlton (86%2C white) splits the difference between Fayetteville%27s Josh McQuade (18%2C left) and Justin Faryna (25%2C right).