Texas Tornado Come from Behind to Win 15th Straight Game
November 18, 2010 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Texas Tornado News Release
Behind 3rd period goals from J.D. Howard and the game-winner from Joseph Mottiqua, the Texas Tornado came from behind to defeat the Wichita Falls Wildcats in Wichita Falls on Wednesday night by a score of 5-4. The win is the 15th in a row for the Tornado, who are now just two wins away from matching their franchise record for consecutive regular season wins. The win also increased the Tornado's lead in the NAHL's South Division to nine points over the 2nd place Wildcats.
As a trademark of their play the past month, the Tornado again started on a strong note, dominating the Wildcats from the get go. That led to an early Tornado power play. The Tornado wasted no time as just seconds into the man advantage, Pavel Hurtik blasted a one-timer from the point which beat Wildcats goaltender Eric Garavaglia for 1-0 Tornado lead. Ralfs Freibergs and Jackson Leef assisted. Six minutes later the lead increased to 2-0 for Texas as Tyler Rostenkowski poked home a rebound after a chance from Rock Einersen. Wichita Falls picked up the pace late in the period with a goal from Sean Keane to make it 2-1 at intermission.
The Tornado came out flat in the 2nd period and the Wildcats jumped all over Texas with three straight goals. Keil Zornow fired a shot home from the point to tie the game at 2-2. Drew Allen made it 3-2 Wichita Falls midway through the period as two saves from Tornado netminder Jim Kruger weren't enough as Allen slipped home a rebound. The Wildcats put the Tornado in an even deeper hole as Jason McAloon won a face-off and walked in on Kruger and beat him to the low glove side for a 4-2 Wildcats lead. The Tornado stopped the Wildcats goal rush with a beautiful 2 on 1 goal from David Rigatti on a pass from Rock Einersen and Jack Prince to draw the Tornado within one at 4-3 heading into the 3rd period.
The Tornado came out of the lockerroom on fire and tied the game at 4-4 just :55 seconds into the 3rd period with a goal from J.D. Howard, who was the recipient of a great pass from the side boards by Nate Sliwinski. Just two minutes later the Tornado would regain the lead for good, as Mike Fleming's shot from a sharp angle was fought off by Garavaglia, but Joseph Mottiqua was there for the rebound on the loose puck to put the Tornado ahead 5-4. Jimmy Kruger and the Tornado would make the lead stand the remainder of the game, including killing off two late power plays as the Tornado walked away from their first trip of the season to Wichita Falls with their 15th straight win. Kruger remains undefeated on the season with a perfect 11-0 record in goal.
Behind 3rd period goals from J.D. Howard and the game-winner from Joseph Mottiqua, the Texas Tornado came from behind to defeat the Wichita Falls Wildcats in Wichita Falls on Wednesday night by a score of 5-4. The win is the 15th in a row for the Tornado, who are now just two wins away from matching their franchise record for consecutive regular season wins. The win also increased the Tornado's lead in the NAHL's South Division to nine points over the 2nd place Wildcats.
As a trademark of their play the past month, the Tornado again started on a strong note, dominating the Wildcats from the get go. That led to an early Tornado power play. The Tornado wasted no time as just seconds into the man advantage, Pavel Hurtik blasted a one-timer from the point which beat Wildcats goaltender Eric Garavaglia for 1-0 Tornado lead. Ralfs Freibergs and Jackson Leef assisted. Six minutes later the lead increased to 2-0 for Texas as Tyler Rostenkowski poked home a rebound after a chance from Rock Einersen. Wichita Falls picked up the pace late in the period with a goal from Sean Keane to make it 2-1 at intermission.
The Tornado came out flat in the 2nd period and the Wildcats jumped all over Texas with three straight goals. Keil Zornow fired a shot home from the point to tie the game at 2-2. Drew Allen made it 3-2 Wichita Falls midway through the period as two saves from Tornado netminder Jim Kruger weren't enough as Allen slipped home a rebound. The Wildcats put the Tornado in an even deeper hole as Jason McAloon won a face-off and walked in on Kruger and beat him to the low glove side for a 4-2 Wildcats lead. The Tornado stopped the Wildcats goal rush with a beautiful 2 on 1 goal from David Rigatti on a pass from Rock Einersen and Jack Prince to draw the Tornado within one at 4-3 heading into the 3rd period.
The Tornado came out of the lockerroom on fire and tied the game at 4-4 just :55 seconds into the 3rd period with a goal from J.D. Howard, who was the recipient of a great pass from the side boards by Nate Sliwinski. Just two minutes later the Tornado would regain the lead for good, as Mike Fleming's shot from a sharp angle was fought off by Garavaglia, but Joseph Mottiqua was there for the rebound on the loose puck to put the Tornado ahead 5-4. Jimmy Kruger and the Tornado would make the lead stand the remainder of the game, including killing off two late power plays as the Tornado walked away from their first trip of the season to Wichita Falls with their 15th straight win. Kruger remains undefeated on the season with a perfect 11-0 record in goal.
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