Special Teams Propels Knoxville to 4-2 Win
January 30, 2022 - SPHL (SPHL)
Knoxville Ice Bears News Release
Knoxville Ice Bears defenseman Jason Price
(Knoxville Ice Bears)
Four different players scored power play goals for Knoxville and the Ice Bears defeated the Quad City Storm 4-2 at the TaxSlayer Center in Moline Sunday night.
The Ice Bears (26-4-3) retake first place in the SPHL standings with two games in hand over the Huntsville Havoc. The Storm (18-8-7) have lost four of their last five games.
Knoxville fell behind in the first period when Kyle Heitzner scored at 13:06. Joe Sova found Heitzner in the neutral zone to setup a two-on-one. Heitzner fed the puck across to the right circle for Marcus Ortiz, who sent it back to Heitzner behind Sammy Bernard for an easy tap-in to give the Storm the lead at the first intermission.
Jason Price put Knoxville on the board with a power play goal during a five-on-three. After the puck was sent into the crease, Anthony McVeigh and Dino Balsamo both had chances stopped by Thomas Proudlock before Price ultimately put in the rebound at 9:20 of the second.
The Ice Bears took their first lead of the afternoon when Stepan Timofeyev fed a saucer pass from the top of the left circle to the right side of the crease for Razmuz Waxin-Engback. Waxin-Engback quickly slipped the puck by Proudlock for his 13th goal of the year at 15:44.
Timofeyev added to the lead 35 seconds later when he ripped the top shelf from the right circle. Price hit him from the opposite side of the zone and Timofeyev's wrister found the net to give the Ice Bears a 3-1 lead at the second intermission.
Balsamo gave the Ice Bears a three-goal edge with a backhand at 2:15 of the third. Waxin-Engback made a pass across the slot and Balsamo beat Proudlock back to the short side post for his team-leading 17th of the season.
The Ice Bears finished 4-of-8 on the power play and killed off all three Quad City man advantage opportunities. Bernard finished with 34 saves in picking up his second win as an Ice Bear. Proudlock made 38 stops for Quad City.
Knoxville continues a four-game road swing when it visits Birmingham on Thursday night at 7:30 p.m. CST. Quad City heads to the Ford Center Friday night to take on Evansville.
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 Knoxville Ice Bears defenseman Jason Price |
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SPHL Stories from January 30, 2022
- Peoria Sweeps Weekend with 5-2 Victory over Vermilion County - Peoria Rivermen
- Best Wins Wild One in OT for the Marksmen - Fayetteville Marksmen
- Special Teams Propels Knoxville to 4-2 Win - Knoxville Ice Bears
- Bobcats Fall to Peoria, 4-0 - Vermilion County Bobcats
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