HUNTSVILLE, AL – The Havoc squeezed out a 3-2 shootout victory from the Pensacola Ice Flyers at the Von Braun Center for the team’s fourth straight win.
“Our game plan was all about us,” said head coach Glenn Detulleo. “We wanted to make sure we played our game and force them play while having to adjust to us. We felt like if we played to our identity we had a chance to get the win.”
Huntsville kicked the scoring off at 5:39 into the opening frame with a shot from Christian Powers. The goal marked the fifth time the Havoc scored the game’s first goal this year. Grabbing assists on Powers’ first of the year were Nolan Kaiser and Michael Piluso.
Minutes later Huntsville bumped their lead to two with Sy Nutkevitch’s second of the year at 9:04. Nutkevitch now has points in five straight while assists came to Zach Carriveau and Nolan Huysmans.
In the second, Pensacola cut the lead in half with a shot 2:36 into the middle frame. But, it wasn’t until the final minute of regulation when the Ice Flyers tied the game at two and send it into overtime.
After a scoreless five minute extra frame the two teams would decide things with a shootout. With each of the first two shooters for either side were unable to hit the back of the net, Carriveau wristed a shot over a sprawling goaltender to give the Havoc a chance. But Pensacola came back with a goal of their own to tie it once again.
No pressure on Justin Tateson, the 6’4” defenseman skated in and faked the forehand while dragging the puck around the out of position Ice Flyer goaltender for the game winning goal.
“Had an excellent start to get the lead,” said head coach Glenn Detulleo. “After falling back on our heels we found a way to battle back. Good teams always find a way to win and Steel made some good saves.”
Memorable Moments
With the goal, Nutkevitch now has points in five straight and six of first seven. In his current streak, the Quebec native has 2 goals and 6 assists.
Zach Carriveau registered an assist in tonight’s action and now leads all defenseman in the SPHL with six on the year.
Dylan Nowakowski saw his four-game point streak come to an end tonight but remains second amongst rookies in scoring and is now in sole possession of first in shots taken by a rookie. The Calgary, Alta. native is currently tied with teammate Jordan Wood for most goals by a rookie with 4.
Tyler Steel ran a shutout streak of 82:36 dating back to last Friday’s 3-0 shutout at home. He now holds a 2-1 record with wins in two straight.
The Havoc registered a three-game winning streak at home to start the year for the second time in last three years.
Huntsville has now won game one of a season series versus Pensacola four of the last five years.
Text provided by SPHL Huntsville Havoc media release.
Photographs provided by Christina.Wolff@ProHockeyNews.com
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