For Immediate Release:
February 2, 2019
DAWGS FALL IN OT IN FRONT OF LARGEST CROWD IN FRANCHISE HISTORY
Oleksandr Liulchuk nets goal in 2-1 overtime loss
ROANOKE, Va. – The Rail Yard Dawgs outshot the Evansville Thunderbolts, 50-19, and got a goal from Oleksandr Liulchuk but ultimately had to settle for only one point as they fell in overtime, 2-1, Saturday night at Berglund Center. The Dawgs welcomed a franchise record crowd of 6,301.
Roanoke came out flying but was unable to crack Braeden Ostepchuk in the opening period. They fired 17 shots on net in the first but didn’t open the scoring until just over five minutes into the second. Liulchuk gathered a loose puck in the slot and fired a backhander to the net. It sailed through traffic and past a screened Ostepchuk, making the score 1-0.
Evansville eventually picked up its goaltender near the halfway point of the third as Nick D’Avolio and Ben Owen gained the zone on a two-on-one rush. D’Avolio snapped a shot that Brad Barone stopped but Owen knocked in the rebound and the game was tied at one.
Roanoke finished the third period with 18 shots on net but Ostepchuk stood strong. He stopped every Rail Yard Dawgs shot and the game moved to overtime tied at one.
The Dawgs opened up overtime with a power play and had a flurry of chances that they could not convert on. Eventually, Evansville’s Carter Shinkaruk gained the zone on the left wing and slung a shot that Barone stopped. He followed the shot however and poked in the rebound for the game-winning goal.
Despite the loss, Roanoke earned a point for the sixth consecutive game, a new season high. Ostepchuk made 49 saves on 50 shots to earn the win in net and Barone stopped 17 of 19. Liulchuk’s goal was his first of the season.
The Rail Yard Dawgs moved to 17-15-3 in the overtime loss while Evansville improved to 6-27-2. Roanoke will return to action on Friday night at home against the Birmingham Bulls. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:05 PM at Berglund Center and the pregame show begins at 6:50 PM on the Haley Toyota Rail Yard Dawgs Hockey Network.
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