Havoc Drop 10th OT Game of Season 6-5 to Mississippi
Published on April 6, 2018 under SPHL (SPHL)
Huntsville Havoc News Release
SOUTHAVEN, MISSISSIPPI - With an eye on improving the team's standing in the playoffs, the Havoc traveled to Mississippi for one last regular season road trip to face the seventh place RiverKings.
Huntsville scored four straight goals in the second period, but the RiverKings pushed the game to overtime where Mississippi finally put the game away 6-5.
The loss was Huntsville's tenth overtime or shootout loss of the season, the most in a single season in franchise history.
"The guys did a great job fighting back after a slow start," said Havoc Head Coach Glenn Detulleo. "Unfortunately, we came up short in overtime."
With the loss, Huntsville can't finish any higher than fourth in the standings, but the point sending it to OT means the Havoc can't finish any lower. The team will not have a choice in their opponent in the Challenge Round of the playoffs, but also will not be one of the "challenged" teams.
Mississippi rookie Daniel Tedesco started the scoring for the RiverKings barely a minute into the game. Teammate Kristaps Bazevics joined in about midway through the first period and the Havoc found themselves down 2-0 at the break.
During the intermission, Detulleo decided to make a personnel change between the pipes, benching Mike DeLaVergne and starting Keegan Asmundson in the middle frame. The change did not rattle the RiverKings as Ralfs Grinsbergs scored just 40 seconds into the second period.
Just as things were looking bleak, the Havoc settled down and scored four goals in less than 15 minutes.
Asmundson and Sy Nutkevitch helped shoulder the load for the Havoc in the second period. Nutkevtich scored two minutes into the period, served up an assist for Christian Powers two minutes later, and then tied the game with a shorthanded goal.
Dylan Hood gave the Havoc their first lead of the game later in the period and Huntsville held a 4-3 advantage into the second intermission.
The break helped the RiverKings regain their composure. Devin Mantha got his third point of the night for Mississippi, tying the game five minutes into the third period, and Tedesco scored in the final minute to put the home team up by one.
However, as the clock ticked down to the final buzzer, Huntsville pulled the goalie and put an extra attacker on the ice. Christian Powers scored his second goal of the night with 12 seconds left on the clock to send the game to overtime.
Both teams skated strong in the extra frame, but Bazevics scored hissecond goal of the night to put the game away for Mississippi 6-5.
Nutkevtich's four points (2g, 2a) in his 99th game with Huntsville moves him past his head coach Glenn Detulleo on the Havoc all-time scoring list with 111 points.
Powers' two scores bring his season total to 28 goals and a tie for the most in the SPHL.
Huntsville closes the regular season in Pelham, Alabama, on Saturday, April 6, against in-state rivals the Birmingham Bulls. Puck drops at 7:05 p.m. CDT and can be heard live on 97.7 The Zone.
The Challenge Round of the playoffs will be determined in the Challenge Round Selection Show on Sunday, April 8, at the Von Braun Center's Bud Light Café. The production will be broadcast live from the Rocket City as Crimson Tide broadcast legend Eli Gold will host toe show alongside Stanley Cup winner Terry Crisp, the voice of the Nashville Predators. The top three SPHL teams will reveal their selections of who they will challenge in the first round of the SPHL playoffs.
When Huntsville's opponent is decided and the official schedule announced, tickets will go on sale Monday, April 9, at 10 a.m. at the Havoc front office.
SPHL Stories from April 6, 2018
- Havoc Drop 10th OT Game of Season 6-5 to Mississippi - Huntsville Havoc
- Rivermen Walk Dawgs, Cruise to 6-1 Victory - Peoria Rivermen
- Bazevics' Game Winner Silences Havoc, 6-5 - Mississippi RiverKings
- Peter Di Salvo Records Shutout, Mayhem Hammer Bulls 7-0 - Macon Mayhem
- Dawgs Fall to Rivermen, 6-1 - Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs
- Ice Flyers Bounce Back with 2-1 Win - Pensacola Ice Flyers
- Rivermen Game Notes: Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs at Peoria Rivermen - Peoria Rivermen
- SPHL Challenge Round Broadcast, Jersey Auction Details Announced - SPHL
- Margarita's at Mercer Village to Host Challenge Round Selection Show Watch Party - Macon Mayhem
- Margarita's at Mercer Village to Host Challenge Round Selection Show Watch Party - Macon Mayhem
- Mayhem Game Notes: Mayhem at Birmingham Bulls - Macon Mayhem
- Weekend Preview: Ice Flyers vs. Knoxville Ice Bears - Pensacola Ice Flyers
- Marksmen Game against ThunderBolts Postponed - Fayetteville Marksmen
- Rail Yard Dawgs Game Notes: Rail Yard Dawgs (25-25-4) at Rivermen (37-12-5) - Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs
- Havoc Game Notes for April 6 - Huntsville Havoc
- RiverKings Announce Challenge Round Selection Show - Mississippi RiverKings
- Tonight's Matchup against Fayetteville Postponed until Sunday - Evansville Thunderbolts
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