Gems Fall in Overtime 3-2 to IceMen on Saturday Night

November 12, 2011 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Dayton Gems News Release


Dayton, OH - Despite a hard pressed comeback in the third period to send the game into overtime, the Dayton Gems could not overcome an IceMen powerplay in the extra period, ultimately falling to the Evansville IceMen 3-2 for their second loss of the weekend. Scoring for the Gems was Jon Ornelas to lead off the second period and Nick Fanto in the third. Both teams travel to Evansville to battle for the third straight night, with faceoff set for 5pm central from Evansville, Indiana.

The Gems would be forced to fend off a high charged and lightning quick Evansville offense right off the opening draw, highlighted by the IceMen's first goal early in the opening period to take the lead at 6:58. Dayton would return fire with a bevy of shots towards IceMen netminder Bryan Gillis, but just like last night, the Gems couldn't find a way to get anything past the goal line through twenty minutes. Dayton would carry a slight edge in shots on goal in the period, leading Evansville 9-8 into the intermission.

Both teams would settle into a second period devoid of much to grab the hometown crowd's attention, as Dayton would trade shots and odd man rushes with their guest, in an end to end period with neither team finding the back of the net until the very end, with Evansville lighting the lamp on a last ditch rush into Gems territory to extend the lead to two with just 17.9 seconds showing on the clock above center ice. For the second straight period, the Gems outshot the IceMen 15-13 for a forty minute total of 24-21 Gems into the second intermission.

Dayton took control to being the third period, taking full advantage of an early delayed penalty to set up Jon Ornelas to bury a shot past the shoulder of Gillis and cut the Evansville lead back down to one at 4:01. As the period advanced, so too would the physicality on the ice, as both teams juiced up their intensity. The remainder of regulation would see a barrage of special teams play, but neither team would cash in with the man advantage. It would take a frantic effort into Evansville ice to bounce in the tying goal with a mere 18.4 showing on the clock, with Nick Fanto sending the game to extra frames and lighting up the home crowd. Shots on goal through regulation had Dayton leading 33 to 28.

With Ornelas being whistled for a holding penalty in overtime, Evansville took advantage to set up a snapshot that beat Hogan stickside to secure the win for the visiting IceMen with less than a minute remaining in the extra period. Final shots on goal favored Dayton 36-31.

With the loss, the Gems record now stands at (2-3-3) and they now prepare for Sunday afternoon's series conclusion inside the brand new Ford Center in downtown Evansville, Indiana. Game time is 5pm Central, 6pm Eastern and can be tuned into on wave96.net and CHL TV.



Central Hockey League Stories from November 12, 2011


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