Knoxville Snaps Mayhem's Nine-Game Winning Streak
November 17, 2018 - SPHL (SPHL)
Macon Mayhem News Release
Macon Mayhem fend off the Knoxville Ice Bears
(Macon Mayhem, Credit: Bryan Meeks)
Hosting the Knoxville Ice Bears for the third time in as many weeks, the Mayhem fell by a 4-1 final and relinquished their nine-game winning streak.
The ice was tilted in Macon's favor early, but Michael Santaguida had a strong start in goal for Knoxville. A penalty called against Dakota Klecha in the second minute forced the Mayhem into an early penalty kill, but the Mayhem charged down the ice on a 2-on-1 shorthanded rush. John Siemer was hooked, drawing a penalty and nullifying the Knoxville power play.
Knoxville drew first blood when Anthony McVeigh rifled a shot from the right circle. The puck bounced off of Bryce Nielsen, who was parked in the crease, and past Jordan Ruby. It would be the first time all weekend Ruby allowed a goal. On a Mayhem power play very late in the period, Brandon Fehd fed the puck over to Derek Sutliffe at the right point. Sutliffe unleashed a one-timer in the final second, and beat Santaguida with 0.9 remaining in the opening stanza.
Macon's late goal did not faze the Ice Bears in the slightest, as the visitors managed to respond just 42 seconds into the second period. Liam Kerins cleaned up a rebound off Ruby for his fourth goal of the season and third against the Mayhem. Shortly after, Knoxville doubled its lead on a power play, which would be the first time the Mayhem had trailed by two goals since the home opener on October 19th.
Despite their best efforts, the Mayhem could not put a dent in their deficit. Midway through the third period, Stathis Soumelidis shoveled a neutral zone pass to Jake Trask, who swiveled his way down the left wing and fed the puck across the crease to Jarret Kup. The defenseman just missed the net on the one-timer, and Knoxville maintained a two-goal lead.
For the first time all season, the Mayhem pulled their goaltender in an attempt to tie the game. Ruby was replaced by a sixth attacker in the closing minutes, but the tactic did not pay off and an empty-net goal scored by Eliot Grauer sealed the deal.
Ruby was charged with his first regulation defeat of the season, stopping 29 of 32 shots. Santaguida had his best performance of the year and earned his second victory on the campaign, denying 26 of 27 Macon shots. The Mayhem will head down to Pensacola to square off against the Ice Flyers on Thanksgiving Eve on Wednesday, November 21st. Puck drop is set for 7:35/6:35 pm Central.
Images from this story
 Macon Mayhem fend off the Knoxville Ice Bears (Bryan Meeks) |
SPHL Stories from November 17, 2018
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- Havoc Drop Fourth Straight, Lose 6-2 to Bulls - Huntsville Havoc
- Knoxville Snaps Mayhem's Nine-Game Winning Streak - Macon Mayhem
- Despite 45 Shots, Marksmen Lose 4-2 to Roanoke - Fayetteville Marksmen
- Roanoke Sprints Past Fayetteville, 4-2 - Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs
- Preview: Mayhem vs. Knoxville Ice Bears (Game 11) - Macon Mayhem
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