Rail Yard Dawgs Score Four Unanswered Goals To Grab Win #4 (11-3-23)
By: Joey Raymond
All Photo Credit: Katie Lovell-LMS Network
Roanoke, VA —The Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs return home after a road trip in which they grabbed 3 of 4 possible points. In other good news, the Dawgs get Matt O’Dea back after starting the season on the injured reserve. On the other side of the ice, we have the Pensacola Ice Flyers. They come into this game with a 2-1 record. They look like a different squad than last year’s bunch, which should make for some good hockey. Roanoke is extremely happy to be home once again, as their record at home is 43-16-6, versus on the road, where they are 25-32-9. The Berglund Center is rocking once again, as these fans are ready to cheer on their Dawgs.
First Period Recap:
Very early in this game, we see several turnovers from both squads, and the teams get used to the Berglund Center Ice. Roanoke gets called early for a tripping penalty, putting the Ice Flyers on the first power play of the game. Pensacola takes full advantage of the power play, scoring a goal on the goalkeeper’s weak side. This gives the Ice Flyers an early 0-1 lead. Several big hits, shots on goal, and minutes pass before we get any more action. When we do it’s when the Ice Flyers get a turn to sit in the penalty box. Pensacola gets called for Interference and Roanoke gets to try being on the power play. The Dawgs would go the entire two minutes not being able to even muster a shot on goal, keeping the score 0-1. The first period would end shortly after.
Second Period Recap:
The Dawgs enter the second period needing to get momentum back on their side. The fans in the arena need something to cheer for. Pensacola wouldn’t budge early on in the period, keeping the puck in Roanoke’s end for just under the first three minutes. Roanoke would get called for a hooking penalty, allowing another power play opportunity for the Ice Flyers. The Dawgs would successfully kill the penalty, leaving the score at 0-1. Roanoke would put up an offensive onslaught after the penalty kill, putting shot after shot on net, but nothing was getting past the 6 foot 3 inch Pensacola goalkeeper, Kaden Fulcher. Continuing the momentum back to Roanoke’s side, Pensacola gets called for another penalty and it’s the Dawgs turn once again to go on the power play. The Ice Flyers would successfully kill the penalty, with the score kept where it’s been. With the momentum back on the Ice Flyers side, they would fire down to the Roanoke side and score a quick goal off the top shelf, stretching their lead to 0-2. The period would come down the stretch as the one-minute mark hits. Roanoke is currently outperforming Pensacola in shots on goal 30-15. The Ice Flyers have just had more success putting it into the back of the net. Roanoke would get called for another penalty with 53 seconds left. This means that Pensacola will start the next period on the power play, as the clock would hit all zeros.
Third Period Recap:
After a brief delay to start the period, The Dawgs would finish the penalty kill, leaving the score at 0-2. The Dawgs would continue their relentless effort to get shots on goal. After the fifth shot on goal this period, the puck would finally find the net for the Dawgs off the stick of Xavier Filion. The score is now 1-2, with Roanoke trying to find their way back in it. Pensacola would have a response though, as only a couple minutes later they too would find the back of the net. This time off the stick of Herrmann, bringing the lead back to two, and the score to 1-3. Roanoke, looking extremely worn and tattered at this point, would continue to scratch and claw. The Pensacola defense would prove to be quite the mountain to climb though, as the shots on goal total is still double that of the Ice Flyers.
The Dawgs would breathe new life back into the Berglund Center as a top-shelf goal finds its way into the net, and knocks around the goalkeeper’s water bottle. The Dawgs are back within one goal, as the score is now 2-3. Roanoke would miss a huge breakaway goal, but shortly after snagged a power play, as Pensacola was called for slashing. Roanoke would score so fast you couldn’t even blink, tying the game up, and causing the Berglund Center to explode. This game is now tied at 3-3, as “let’s go Dawgs” chants rain down on the ice. The fans are letting their presence known. Only a minute would pass before Roanoke would once again find the back of the net. Pensacola’s floodgates have officially broken open as the Dawgs offensive onslaught is paying off. After the Dawgs goal, they’ll take the lead for the first time tonight, at 4-3. The Dawgs would get called for a tripping penalty but another minute goes by, another Roanoke goal. Roanoke would find the net again, this time off the stick of Nick Ford, giving the Dawgs a 5-3 lead off the short-handed goal. The Dawgs would kill off the penalty, going back to full strength. As soon as they do, we get our first fight of the game. Pensacola would technically win the fight, but momentum is definitely on the Dawgs’ side as we draw closer to the one-minute mark. The Dawgs would hold onto the puck as time expired, escaping a close one, and pulling out the win.
What’s Next?
After getting beat up in the first two periods the Dawgs managed a tough win at home. That means that the Dawgs will have a 4-0-1 record heading into their next matchup, and Pensacola will have a 2-2 record. Both of these squads will finish this series on November 4th, and after that, they’ll head their separate ways. Roanoke will head to Huntsville, Alabama on November 10th to face the next-best team in the league right now, the Huntsville Havoc. Pensacola will head on to Fayetteville on November 5th to play the Marksmen, before heading over to Birmingham, and then back home finally after a long road trip. The Ice Flyers proved to be a really solid team in this matchup before getting overwhelmed in the final period. Watch for them to be a tough team to beat if they can figure out how to close games in the future.
