Mayhem Snap Birmingham's Eleven Game Winning Streak
Published on November 24, 2018 under SPHL (SPHL)
Macon Mayhem News Release
On Cancer Awareness Night, Ian Sylves and Dakota Klecha led the Mayhem to a 3-1 triumph over the Birmingham Bulls to snap the longest winning streak to start a season in SPHL history.
With the biggest crowd of the season on hand, the Mayhem were adamant about scoring the first goal of the game. Despite a strong start, they could not get on the board in the first period.
Birmingham net-minder Charlie Millen fought off a flurry shots coming on a Macon power play and made all eight stops in the opening stanza. Sylves, who had been making his Mayhem debut, did the same.
On a Bulls power play, Josh Harris carried the puck down the left half wall. He flung the puck from circle to circle, setting up Jacob Barber for a one-timer. Barber fired a shot over Sylves' blocker to open the scoring.
Klecha had an answer halfway through the middle period. He spotted a loose puck in front of Millen, demonstrated terrific poise and rifled it into the top corner of the net to tie the game. Then, with only 25 seconds remaining in the second, Stathis Soumelidis tapped home his third goal of the season to give the Mayhem their first lead against the Bulls.
Klecha's dominance continued into the third period, as he helped the Mayhem to finally convert on a power play. After cycling the puck with Jake Trask and Kristaps Bazevics, Klecha stepped out to the front of the net and tucked it past Millen to give the Mayhem an insurance lead 5:54 into the third period.
From this point on, the ice was tilted in Birmingham's favor. They pummeled Sylves with a myriad of shots on goal, forcing save after save from the Macon net-minder. The 24-year-old held his ground and stopped all 16 shots he faced in the final frame, leading the Mayhem to a 3-1 win.
Sylves made 37 of a possible 38 saves in his Mayhem debut, earning his first win and second star of the game honors in the process. Millen was charged with his first defeat, stopping 28 of 31. The Mayhem will head out to Roanoke to square off with the Rail Yard Dawgs next Friday, November 30th at the Berglund Center. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:05 pm ET.
SPHL Stories from November 24, 2018
- Ice Flyers Fall Short, Lose 3-2 in Overtime - Pensacola Ice Flyers
- Rivermen Outlast Ice Flyers in Overtime Saturday - Peoria Rivermen
- Mayhem Snap Birmingham's Eleven Game Winning Streak - Macon Mayhem
- Minney Stands Tall with 34 Saves in 1-0 Loss - Evansville Thunderbolts
- Off the Schneid: Havoc Snap Losing Streak at Roanoke 3-2 - Huntsville Havoc
- Dawgs Comeback Falls Short, 3-2 - Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs
- Bulls Streak Ends in Macon - Birmingham Bulls
- Defensive Failures Lead Marksmen to 7-2 Loss - Fayetteville Marksmen
- Fayetteville Loses Two-Goal Lead, Falls to Knoxville in OT - Fayetteville Marksmen
- Rail Yard Dawgs Game Notes: Rail Yard Dawgs (5-5-0) vs Havoc (4-6-1) - 7:05 PM - Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs
- Ice Bears Clip Marksmen in OT - Knoxville Ice Bears
- Struggles Continue for Havoc as Roanoke Doubles-Up Huntsville 4-2 - Huntsville Havoc
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