PHN’s Best Shots of the Game: The Havoc Blank the RiverKings 3-0 in Front of Sell-Out Crowd Saturday

HUNTSVILLE, AL – The Havoc come back Saturday night after a loss to shutout the Mississippi RiverKings 3-0 in front of a sell-out crowd at the Von Braun Center.

Huntsville kicked off the scoring in the first when Nolan Kaiser ripped a shot on the near point that was initially saved by the RiverKing netminder but Johnny Daniels was there gobble up the rebound. Daniels seventh of the year for Huntsville hit the back of the net 9:16 into the opening frame with Zach Carriveau recording the secondary assist.

With the opening frame tally, the Havoc entered the first intermission with the lead for the first time this season against the RiverKings.

In the second, Huntsville continued to add pressure and get pucks to the net. With the play inside the team’s offensive zone for most of the middle frame, Sy Nutkevitch was awarded for his hard work. With the Havoc just coming off a power play opportunity, player/assistant coach Stuart Stefan fed the Montreal, Que. native a pass. Nutkevitch registered one shot that was saved by Brad Barone but received his own rebound not missing the second shot 19:12 into the period.

Carriveau notched his second assist of the game on the goal and the Havoc walked into the third with a lead for the second straight home game.

“It’s what I was brought in to do and happy to have the bounces start to go my way and if it helps, I love it.,” said Carriveau.

Huntsville looked to secure the victory in the third with help from goaltender Adam Courchaine. The Kanata, Ont. native registered six saves in the final frame including a couple early on. The Havoc remained on the prowl though and with the team seeing success on the power play in recent games, tonight was no different. With the man-advantage, Nolan Kaiser sauced a pass over to Andy Willigar on the near point and blasted his second of the season, and in as many games, by the outstretched glove of the Mississippi netminder. Nutkevitch capped off a two-point night with the secondary assist.

“It’s an absolute pleasure to play for this organization,” said Willigar. “You’re only as good as the people that are around you and lucky for me it’s a very skilled team. I think my shot is one of my better attributes and I am lucky to have had a few lanes to get through recently.”

The lone shot of the period was all Huntsville needed as they took down Mississippi by a final of 3-0. Courchaine recorded his first shutout of the season and his tenth win of the year.

“It felt like it was a long time coming, we had a couple games where it was close at the end but these guys are awesome and I think I got the shutout because of my teammates,” said Courchaine. “I was looking forward to this one because last time I was in net against Mississippi Barone beat me in a shootout and it felt good to get this one back.”