Comeback Kids! Tornado win 5th straight with 4-3 OT win
January 15, 2011 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Texas Tornado News Release
Three unanswered goals including the overtime winner by J.D. Howard gave the Texas Tornado a 4-3 victory over Fresno on Saturday night in front of 2,543 fans at the Dr Pepper Arena in Frisco, extending the Tornado win streak to five games. Ralfs Freibergs had a goal and an assist and Marc Biggs and Nate Sliwinski also scored for Texas in the win.
The game got off to a fast start, but Texas could not convert on any early chances and the Monsters took over from there, scoring a power play goal from the point off the stick of Walker Hyland, who's shot squeaked through Tornado goaltender Jake Stafford for a 1-0 Fresno lead. The Monsters outshot the Tornado 12-8 in the opening period.
Tornado defenseman Ralfs Freibergs has the only goal of the 2nd period, which came with just :35 seconds remaining in the period as a centering pass from Mico Solorzano bounced in front right to a loose Freibergs, who poked it in past Fresno goaltender Tom Conlin.
A wild 3rd period saw Fresno take a 3-1 lead with two goals in the first four minutes. Jordan Lovick notched his second point of the night as he gave Fresno the lead back just :38 seconds in and Matthew Coleman scored a shorthanded goal four minutes later to give Fresno a 3-1 lead early in the 3rd period. But, the never-say-die Tornado came back with a goal from Marc Biggs, who ripped home a shot past Conlin from the high slot with assists to Joseph Mottiqua and Patrick Gregory to make it 3-2. With five minutes remaining the in the 3rd period, Nate Sliwinski, who has been on fire, scored to tie the game at 3-3 with helpers to Jackson Leef and newcomer George Malliaras. The Tornado had a late power play which went into overtime. Sliwinski thought he had ended it with a rebound goal, but a quick whistled negated the potential game-winner. However, just minutes later, J.D. Howard followed his own rebound past a helpless Conlin to give the Tornado the 4-3 OT win with assists to Freibergs and David Rigatti. With the win the Tornado improved their winning streak to five games and stayed in 2nd place in the South Division, one point behind division-leading Topeka.
• Discuss this story on the North American Hockey League message board...
North American Hockey League Stories from January 15, 2011
- Reversed Goal Costs Bobcats Shootout - Bismarck Bobcats
- Walker Herds Mustangs With Two Late Goals In 4-3 Victory - Corpus Christi IceRays
- Bulls can't get split and lose 4-2 - Amarillo Bulls
- Comeback Kids! Tornado win 5th straight with 4-3 OT win - Texas Tornado
- Bulls Look for Split at Home Versus Topeka - Amarillo Bulls
- 'Runners Bounce Bulls, Remain in First - Topeka Pilots
- "Saucy" Special Teams Springs Corpus Christi Past New Mexico, 5-2 - Corpus Christi IceRays
- Grauer, Pauly, Di Puma Pace Wild: Brown Bears Top Wild - Wenatchee Wild
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
