PHN’s Best Shots of the Game: The Havoc Complete the Comeback in Overtime Against the Ice Flyers for the 4-3 Win

HUNTSVILLE, AL – The Havoc complete the comeback to beat the Pensacola Ice Flyers 4-3 in overtime in front of a sell-out crowd at the Von Braun Center.

“It’s no secret we are battling injuries and it’s just good to see the character of this team and be able to battle back for the win,” said Tyler French.

Huntsville kicked off the game with the first goal of the night for the second straight contest against Pensacola and third straight overall as John Clewlow hit the back of the net for the second straight game. Jordan Wood fed a backhanded pass out front to the Brampton Ont. native for his second goal on home ice at 5:09.

But Pensacola came back just 70 seconds later to tie the game at one with their second goal of the night coming at 6:35 to grab their first and only lead of the night.

In the second period, the Ice Flyers added to their lead with a goal at 8:11 to make it a 3-1 game. But Huntsville would not let up with chances down low during the later stages of the middle frame. In the final minute of the second, the Havoc grabbed a turnover in the offensive zone while forcing a Pensacola penalty. As Tyler Steel went to the bench for the extra attacker, the Havoc continued to cycle the puck and look for chances. Ryan Wilkinson made a nifty move to create space for a shot at the far circle. The initial shot was saved by the Pensacola goaltender but French was there to scoop up the rebound and put home his eighth of the season at 19:55.

“I was lucky to be in the right spot for the rebound and it was one of those that you dream about just happy to be able to tap it in,” said French.

With the Havoc down by one, the third period kicked off with both teams seeing chances while Tyler Steel came up with giant saves. Later in the period, Huntsville saw an offensive face-off draw that was won back to the stick of Ben Kramer. The Great Neck, N.Y. native toed the blue-line then took a shot that was deflected out of the air by Eric Witzel for the game-tying goal at 13:52.

With neither team scoring in the final six minutes of regulation, fans saw overtime at the Von Braun Center. In the extra frame, Huntsville caught a break in the neutral zone and Jordan Wood started another odd-man rush up the left wing side with Stuart Stefan on his right. The Surrey, B.C. native sauced a pass to the player/assistant coach and he did the rest for the game-winner in overtime.

“A couple guys changed and one of theirs was on the ice and with Wood’s nice pass across, I just went backhand to the forehand and scored,” said Stefan. “It’s kind of a rivalry that started a few years ago and every year it seems to grow. We saw a few close ones this season but it’s good to close out the season-series on top.”