For Immediate Release:
March 2, 2018
DAWGS KEEP ROLLING, THUMP ICE FLYERS, 5-1
Matt Zenzola stops 43 as Roanoke extends point streak to ten
PENSACOLA, FL – Matt Zenzola made 43 saves on 44 shots, Maxime Guyon scored twice and the Rail Yard Dawgs breezed past the Pensacola Ice Flyers, 5-1, Friday night at the Pensacola Bay Center. With the win, Roanoke has now recorded points in ten consecutive games.
After a scoreless first period, the Dawgs got their offense rolling early in the second. Zach Tatrn fired a shot on net from the point. Gordon Defiel made the initial save but off the big rebound Cam Bakker stepped into a slap shot and one-timed it into the net to put Roanoke on the board.
It would add to that advantage later in the first as Bakker fired another shot on net from the slot. Defiel blocked it but the rebound popped into the air and Guyon batted the puck out of midair and into the net to extend the advantage to 2-0.
About a minute after that, Riley Spraggs received a pass and found his way to the right wing circle. He uncorked a snapper that blistered past Defiel’s glove and the Dawgs led, 3-0.
That would be all for Defiel who was then pulled after allowing three goals on 14 shots. Roanoke scored on three of the four shots they put on the league-leader in goals against average in the second period.
Guyon kept it rolling later in the second as he took a pass at center and sped around the defense on a breakaway. He deked from his backhand to his forehand and slipped a shot past Brian Billet to make it 4-0.
Meanwhile, the Ice Flyers could not solve Zenzola. They fired 27 shots on his net through two periods and he stopped them all, carrying a shutout into the third. Pensacola ratcheted up the pressure in the final frame and finally struck when Jessyko Bernard buried a rebound goal early in the frame. The Ice Flyers would put 17 shots on net in the third but get nothing further on the board. Roanoke added to its advantage on a Steve Mele empty net goal in the final minute to bring the score to its 5-1 final.
Zenzola blocked 43 of 44 shots faced, Guyon scored two goals for the second straight game and Bakker put up a goal and two assists. The Rail Yard Dawgs won for the ninth time in their last ten games and extended their point streak to ten.
Roanoke improved to 20-19-4 in the win while Pensacola fell to 29-10-4. The Dawgs and Ice Flyers play again on Saturday night. Puck drop at the Pensacola Bay Center is scheduled for 7:05 PM CST.
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