Third Period Comeback Earns Point against Knoxville
February 16, 2018 - SPHL (SPHL) - Evansville Thunderbolts News Release
Evansville, Ind: Down 5-2 in the third period, the Thunderbolts would rally around netminder Ryan de Melo and score four goals to force overtime, earning a point in a 7-6 shootout loss to Knoxville on Friday.
Dave Williams would get the scoring started in the first period, scoring only 50 seconds in to give the Bolts the lead early. Williams - from John Scorcia and Brandon Lubin - would score again in the second period at the 6:14 mark to tie the game at two goals aside. Down 5-2 late in the second, head coach Jeff Pyle elected to replace Jonah Imoo with the recently signed de Melo, and he would play extremely well down the stretch, giving Evansville a chance to get back into the game. Lubin would make it a 5-3 deficit at the 4:51 mark from Dylan Clarke and Chase Nieuwendyk. A couple minutes later at the 7:34 mark, a shot by Nick D'Avolio bounced on Knoxville goalie Troy Davenport, and there to cash in the rebound was freshly-acquired forward Shayne Morrissey to make it 5-4, also assisted by Robbie Hall. D'Avolio would do one better, scoring the game-tying goal at the 13:43 mark from Nick Lazorko and Morrissey. Evansville would take a late lead, as a brilliant play by Dylan Clarke resulted in his 21st goal of the season to give them a 6-5 lead. Knoxville would tie the game and win in a shootout, but the Thunderbolts earned a hard-fought point in the standings.
For Evansville, Williams scored twice, Clarke, Morrissey, Lubin and D'Avolio earned a goal and assist each, Imoo made 14 saves, as did de Melo. The Bolts head off to Alabama to take on the Birmingham Bulls tomorrow night at 7:05 p.m. CST, then in Huntsville on Sunday at 5 p.m. CST. The next home game will be on Friday, Feb. 23 against the Macon Mayhem.
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SPHL Stories from February 16, 2018
- Rivermen Run and Gun in Second, Shoot Down Marksmen Friday - Peoria Rivermen
- Third Period Comeback Earns Point against Knoxville - Evansville Thunderbolts
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- Mayhem Hang on to Defeat Birmingham Bulls 3-2 - Macon Mayhem
- Roanoke Wreaks Havoc on Huntsville, 6-2 - Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs
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- Mayhem Game Notes: Mayhem vs. Birmingham Bulls - Macon Mayhem
- Rail Yard Dawgs Game Notes: Rail Yard Dawgs (15-19-3) vs Havoc (22-12-4) - Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs
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