Havoc Drop Heartbreaker to In-State Rival 5-4
November 17, 2018 - SPHL (SPHL)
Huntsville Havoc News Release
HUNTSVILLE - The Huntsville Havoc spent most of the night chasing the visiting Birmingham Bulls, tying the game three times. The home team could never capture the lead and a late goal allowed the Bulls to slip away with a 5-4 win.
It was the exact score as the previous meeting between the teams on the opening night of the season on Oct. 19. The Havoc spotted the Bulls a two-goal lead in that game as well.
"That was another tough loss on home ice," said Havoc Head Coach Glenn Detulleo. "We played really well for stretches, but ultimately made too many mistakes which cost us the game."
Just as it looked like the first period would end with the Bulls on top 2-0, Huntsville's Christian Powers put in a shot from the slot through traffic with 38 seconds left on the clock to get the Havoc on the board going into intermission.
Ryan Salkeld tied up the game three minutes in to the second period with a quick wrister to the Birmingham goalie's glove side.
The teams would trade goals the rest of the way with the visiting team getting the last score.
Birmingham retook the lead three minutes after Salkeld's tally, but Huntsville would knot it up again on a powerplay. Kyle Sharkey took a shuttled pass from Nolan Kaiser and hesitated just long enough in the right circle to allow for a window of opportunity, sniping a shot over the keeper's left shoulder to once again tie the game.
The Bulls reacquired the lead five minutes into the third period, but the home team responded quickly when Kaiser scored his own goal from the right circle, recording his third point of the night (1g, 2a). The defenseman now leads the team with 8 points (2g, 6a).
With less than five minutes left in the game, there was a scramble for a puck in the Havoc crease with bodies from each side piling on. The puck somehow trickled back out in front of the net where Josh Harris was all alone, making an easy tap-in to account for the 5-4 final.
Huntsville outshot the Bulls 43 to 25. All four penalties in the game - two for each side - were slashing calls.
The Havoc powerplay goal kept the team on top of the SPHL on the powerplay with a 27% scoring rate when carrying the player advantage.
Kaiser and Sy Nutkevitch (3a) each recorded a three-point game. Powers came away with a goal and assist.
These teams conclude the weekend series on Saturday, Nov. 17, at the Pelham Civic Complex in Birmingham. Puck drop is 7 p.m.
Upcoming Home Games
Huntsville celebrates Thanksgiving night with a Thursday, Nov. 22, skate against the Knoxville Ice Bears. It's a Simple Helix Hockey Night in Huntsville with $2 hot dogs and soda.
The next night, Friday, Nov. 23, the team hosts the Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs on Stuart Stefan Night. The team will retire the jersey of the SPHL All-Star, Havoc record-holder, and current Havoc assistant coach. Stuart Stefan Bobblehead ticket packages are available on the Havoc website.
Both games start at 7 p.m. in the Von Braun Center.
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SPHL Stories from November 17, 2018
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- Petaccio Scores In Return To Thunderbolts - Evansville Thunderbolts
- Havoc Drop Fourth Straight, Lose 6-2 to Bulls - Huntsville Havoc
- Knoxville Snaps Mayhem's Nine-Game Winning Streak - Macon Mayhem
- Despite 45 Shots, Marksmen Lose 4-2 to Roanoke - Fayetteville Marksmen
- Roanoke Sprints Past Fayetteville, 4-2 - Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs
- Preview: Mayhem vs. Knoxville Ice Bears (Game 11) - Macon Mayhem
- Rail Yard Dawgs Game Notes: Rail Yard Dawgs (3-4-0) at Marksmen (4-4-1) - 6:00 PM - Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs
- Ice Flyers Beat Quad City Storm 2-1 in Their First Meeting - Pensacola Ice Flyers
- Havoc Drop Heartbreaker to In-State Rival 5-4 - Huntsville Havoc
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