Gems Fall in Final Seconds of Overtime 3-2 to IceMen

February 10, 2012 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Dayton Gems News Release


Dayton, OH - The Gems found themselves battling back to tie the game in the final minutes of regulation before being stunned with mere seconds left in sudden death overtime to fall 3-2 to the Evansville IceMen inside the Ford Center on Friday night. Scoring for the Gems was Andy Zulyniak and Brett Lutes.

For the final time this regular season, the Gems skated onto the ice inside the Ford Center to battle the IceMen in their third game in four nights. Evansville wasted little time in pressuring the Gems in their zone, and would capitalize on a centering pass from the far corner to set up Matt Gens for a slapshot from the point that would squeeze by the fivehole of Gems starting netminder Larry Sterling just 6:21 into the opener. Dayton responded with a punch, as toughguy Robin Richards squared off with Evansville's notorious enforcer Mike Sgroi at center ice for a heavyweight bout of fisticuffs right off the ensuing faceoff. The IceMen again picked up turnovers and would challenge Sterling throughout the period, but neither team could generate any further scoring before the horn. Evansville skated into the first intermission with the 1-0 lead, and would edge the Gems in shots on goal through the first twenty minutes 9-4.

After a scoreless second stanza, the Gems would fire up the red light to tie the game 1-1 at the 15:44 mark, with Andy Zulyniak blasting in his first goal of the season assisted by Damian Surma. Back to the deadlock heading into the closing minutes of the third, Dayton's offense would again kick into high gear to take the 2-1 lead with :53 showing on the clock thanks to Brett Lutes earning his 13th goal of the season and deflating the Evansville Ford Center crowd. Yet, the lead would be short lived, thanks to a controversial penalty called on Gems captain Greg Labenski seconds later, setting up Evansville's tying point on the powerplay with a mere :27 remaining to send the game to sudden death overtime and electrify the home fans. Shots in the third again favored the IceMen 10-6.

A nailbiting sudden death overtime would see end to end action for nearly the full five minutes before a scramble in front of the Gems net gave IceMen captain Todd Robinson the game winner with :34.3 left on the clock.

With the overtime loss, the Gems extend their winless streak to a season-high five games while Dayton's record falls to 15-22-9. The Gems take one point in the standings for sending the game to overtime.

The Gems come home to conclude their grueling four game week on Saturday when they host the first place Fort Wayne Komets on Cassano's Italian Ice at 7pm. Saturday's game is "Pink in the Rink" to support three local women's health organizations through a special postgame "Pink" gameworn jersey auction while the first 500 women through the gates receive a limited edition Gems pink tote bag.

Tickets for Saturday night are now available by calling the Gems at 275-7777 or by visiting www.DaytonGems.com.



Central Hockey League Stories from February 10, 2012


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