Spirit splits weekend series with Texarkana
September 30, 2004 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Alaska Avalanche News Release
After scoring five straight goals and jumping off to a big 5-1 lead, the Spirit held off a hard charging Texarkana team to win last Saturday 5-4 and earn a split in their home opening series.
Ben Boulay scored two goals and set up the winner to lead the Spirit to their first win of 2004-05.
Friday's game was filled with three periods of end-to-end action and the Spirit could have begun the season with a victory, but the game was decided in overtime, and the home team dropped the home opener.
Texarkana began the scoring in the first period Friday, but the Spirit quickly answered back with a shot by Mike Glaesmer and the assists to Derek Kitti. The second period was scoreless which set up an exciting third period.
The Spirit took the lead early in the third with Glaesmer scoring his second of the night with assists to Derek Kitti and Boulay. The lead didn't last and Texarkana tied the contest at 2-2 one minute after Glaesmer's second goal.
With the score still tied 2-2 half way through the third period, the Spirit capitalized on one of the three power-play chances on the night. Andy Sternberg re-directed a shot by Sean Erickson to give the Spirit their second lead of the game.
Two minutes later, however, Texarkana answered with a power-play goal to tie the contest again and send it into overtime.
In OT, the Spirit had some excellent chances, but Texarkana goaltender Gill Riley was strong. With 8.6 seconds left on the clock, Texarkana scored to end the game with Steven Bandurski's wrist shot the beat goaltender Shaun Williams and sealed the 4-3 victory for the visiting Bandits. Riley got an assist on the play.
Up next for the Spirit is a two game series, Friday and Saturday against the visiting Central Texas Marshals at Jordan Valley Ice Park. The puck drops both nights at 7:05 p.m.
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North American Hockey League Stories from September 30, 2004
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