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Gems Win Scrappy Home Opener 2-1 Over Mallards

November 5, 2011 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Dayton Gems News Release


Dayton, OH - Hot off their first win of the season against the Mallards last night in Moline, Illinois, the Dayton Gems extended their winning streak to two games with a scrappy 2-1 win while sporting the popular "retro" throwback Gems jerseys inside a rocking Hara Arena on Saturday night. The win gave Dayton the series sweep over the Mallards in the second game of a two game weekend matchup.

After the long fought battle last night in Quad City, both teams stepped up their physicality right off the opening faceoff, with Dayton's Nick Duff nearly tangling in a bout of fisticuffs after taking a late hit behind the play, garnering a delay of game penalty just :36 in to test the Gems penalty kill early. Dayton would battle though a handful of chances in front of Mallards netminder David McKee before lighting the lamp and exciting the crowd with a Brandon Naurato shortside goal with 4:20 to go in the opener. Naurato's goal, his second of the season was assisted by Brett Lutes and James Sanford. After twenty minutes of play, the Gems took their 1-0 lead into the intermission, while Quad City led in shots on goal 15-4.

While neither team would find the back of the net in the second stanza, play was halted at the 15:15 mark when Gems toughguy Nick Duff steamrolled through Quad City's Justin Chwedoruk in front of Dayton netminder Bryan Hogan, causing Chwedoruk to collapse onto the ice motionless while trainers sprinted onto the ice. Sticking up for his injured teammate, Mallards enforcer Jason Kostadine dropped mitts with Duff, but would not have anticipated the will of Duff's battling fisticuffs and as the fight dragged on for nearly two minutes, Duff would land the final blow to take Kostadine to the ice and the hometown crowd in Dayton screaming to their feet in approval. After the dust settled, Duff was ejected from the game off the initial hit, a match penalty for head contact. As expected, both teams increased their aggressiveness in the closing minutes of the second, with the Gems holding onto the one goal lead at the horn. The Gems used the middle frame to put more rubber towards the goal, outshooting the Mallard 12-11 in the period.

Feeding off the opening night energy throughout Hara Arena, Dayton capped off the third period with a quick powerplay goal just :53 from the opening faceoff, thanks to Brett Lutes blasting a shot past McKee to take the 2-0 lead. The Lutes goal, his second in as many nights, was assisted by Damian Surma and defenseman Tim Hartung. Past the halfway mark in the period, Quad City would bounce in a rebound goal past a sprawling Hogan to nip the shutout at the 14:41 mark to cut the Gems lead back to one. As time ticked off the clock above center ice, the Gems continued to pressure the Mallards on both ends of the ice, forcing Quad City head coach David Bell to take his timeout with ninety seconds left in regulation. Dayton would get close to extending the lead on two separate long shots towards the empty Mallard net, but wouldn't be able to cash in by the final horn. After sixty minutes of hockey, Dayton held on to the 2-1 lead for the Gems second win of the season, first in front of the home fans in a rocking Hara Arena. Final shots on goal favored Quad City 48-22.

With the win, the Gems sweep the Mallards and improve their record to 2-1-2, 6pts and remain unbeaten at home to start. Fans were also treated to a live postgame jersey auction, with the "retro" throwback jerseys being sold the the highest bidder.

The Gems are back in action on Cassano's Italian Ice this Tuesday for the first Kroger "Two For Tuesday" ticket promotion nights, where fans can receive a "buy one get one free" ticket by showing their Kroger Plus card at the Hara Arena box office. Limited quantities remain, so be sure to get yours early. The faceoff for Tuesday is a special "family friendly" 6:30pm, with gates opening at 5:30pm.

The Kettering Medical Center is the official presenting sponsor of the Dayton Gems.

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