Ice Flyers Edge Mayhem in Shootout on Thanksgiving Eve
Published on November 21, 2018 under SPHL (SPHL)
Macon Mayhem News Release
Macon Mayhem defenseman Jake Faiella
(Macon Mayhem)
Heading into Pensacola for the first time this season, the Mayhem could not get their attack rolling and fell by a 2-1 decision in the shootout.
In both matchups this season, the Mayhem have gotten off to a slow start to the game against Pensacola. Wednesday night was no exception. Nick Minerva was sent to the penalty box twice in the first six minutes, leading to two Ice Flyers power plays. The Mayhem were able to kill both of them off.
Jordan Ruby was sturdy in goal in the first period, denying all 13 shots he faced. The Mayhem only managed to counter with five shots on net in the opening stanza, all of which were stopped by Flyers goaltender Brian Billett.
Just 1:23 into the second, the Mayhem found themselves on the wrong end of a 5-on-3 power play. The Ice Flyers cycled the puck up to Matt Johnson in the slot, and the former Greenville Swamp Rabbit fired a shot through the screen to beat Ruby and draw first blood.
Near the halfway point of regulation, the Mayhem motored into the Pensacola zone on a fast-developing counterattack. Jake Trask put the puck over the blue line in stride for Stathis Soumelidis. The Czech winger fed a pass from the right wing into the slot, where Jake Faiella ripped a one-time shot over Billett's blocker to level the score. Ruby made another critical save shortly thereafter, lunging out aggressively on a Mayhem penalty kill to keep Macon tied up.
The Macon netminder continued his stellar play in goal in the closing period, making another 11 saves in the third. Ruby's valiant efforts allowed the Mayhem to force overtime, where they went onto a quick 4-on-3 power play after Trask drew a tripping penalty.
Deliberately moving the puck around the perimeter on the 4-on-3, the Mayhem generated only a few shots on goal with the man-advantage. No victor would emerge after 65 minutes of play, and so a shootout would follow.
The last time the Mayhem had gone to a shootout was against Pensacola on home opening night (Oct. 19th). The Ice Flyers managed to repeat history and defeat the Mayhem again in the shootout, as Macon's snipers all failed to solve Billett and ultimately fell by a 2-1 decision.
Ruby was splendid in goal again despite the loss, stopping 40 of 41 shots in his second shootout defeat of the season. Billett made 21 of a possible 22 saves, earning his first win of the 2018-19 season. The Mayhem will kick off a home-and-home series in Birmingham against the Bulls on Black Friday, November 23rd. Puck drop is set for 8:30/7:30 Central time from the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex. Tickets to the Mayhem's Cancer Awareness Night on Saturday night can be purchased here.
Images from this story
 Macon Mayhem defenseman Jake Faiella |
SPHL Stories from November 21, 2018
- Petaccio Scores In 2nd Straight Game In 5-3 Loss - Evansville Thunderbolts
- Bulls Defeat Evansville - Birmingham Bulls
- Ice Flyers Edge Mayhem in Shootout on Thanksgiving Eve - Macon Mayhem
- Mayhem Slashes Cancer - Macon Mayhem
- Weekend Preview: Havoc Preparing to Break Four-Game Losing Streak on Thanksgiving Day - Huntsville Havoc
- Preview: Mayhem vs. Pensacola Ice Flyers (Game 12) - Macon Mayhem
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