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Havoc Force Game Three with Overtime Victory Over RiverHawks

March 30, 2012 - SPHL (SPHL)
Augusta RiverHawks News Release


The tables were turned on the Augusta RiverHawks Friday night in Huntsville, AL as they were edged out by the Havoc 4-3 in overtime in the second game of the best-of-three Southern Professional Hockey League series. After late-game heroics led to the RiverHawks taking a 1-0 series lead Wednesday night, this time it was the Havoc who scored the tying goal with less than a minute remaining in the third period, and capped the night off with the overtime goal.

Havoc goaltender Mark Sibbald was once again front and center for his squad, as he made 32 saves to give his team a chance to win. His finest moments came in the extra frame as he snuffed our several big RiverHawks chances as his team killed a two-minute penalty, almost immediately after which the RiverHawks were awarded a penalty shot which Sibbald also stopped.

It is a difficult pill to swallow for the RiverHawks, who carried the play for most of the game, only to be forced to a third and deciding game.

The first period ended without any goals, but it led to an explosive initial ten minutes of the second period. RiverHawks forward Egor Mironov opened the scoring as he streaked down the wing and let go a wrist shot from a sharp angle that beat Sibbald on the near side.

It took the Havoc just 59 seconds to even the game as Colin Reddin would score his first of two goals on the night, and it was followed just two minutes later by the go-ahead marker off the stick of Justin Fox. The two goal scorers also assisted on each others tallies.

The Havoc lead would last just over two minutes, however, as RiverHawks' Captain Matt Auffrey barged down the right wing and slid the puck through Sibbald's pads to even the score back up at two.

The situation would remain the same through the remainder of the second period, and through the first five minutes of the third period before RiverHawks' forward Jim Gehring let loose a rocket of a snap shot that beat Sibbald over the arm.

The RiverHawks appeared to be in complete control as they whittled most of the remaining time off of the game clock. However, as the time ticked past the 19-minute mark, the Havoc gained the puck in the RiverHawks' end and Reddin fired a shot past RiverHawks' goaltender Jon Olthuis to tie the game.

The RiverHawks had their chances in overtime. Mironov was hit from behind resulting in a boarding call against the Havoc and a two-minute power play for the RiverHawks, but Sibbald shut the door on Augusta. Then mere seconds later, the RiverHawks were awarded the rare overtime penalty shot, but Sibbald was up to the task denying Neil Graham. It wasn't long after that, that Havoc forward Mike MacDonald streaked into RiverHawks' territory and let go a snap shot that would make its way by Olthuis, forcing the deciding Game Three.

The RiverHawks and Havoc will shift back to the James Brown Arena for Game 3 Saturday, March 31st. The puck drops at 7:35pm. Tickets for the game are available through the RiverHawks' office and the James Brown Arena box office starting at 10am. Additional information on the Team, tickets, and schedule are available on the RiverHawks' home on the web, www.augustariverhawks.com or by calling 706-993-2645.



SPHL Stories from March 30, 2012


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