For Immediate Release:
February 3, 2017
DAWGS STUN ICE FLYERS IN OVERTIME, 4-3
Colin Murray scores game-winner seven seconds into OT
PENSACOLA, FL – The Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs scored twice in the final three minutes of regulation to force overtime and Colin Murray netted the game-winning goal just seven seconds into the overtime period as the Dawgs stunned the Pensacola Ice Flyers, 4-3, Friday night at the Pensacola Bay Center.
Trailing 3-1 and working on a power play, the Dawgs pulled Ryan de Melo for an extra attacker with just 2:30 to play in regulation. Roanoke cycled the puck on the attack and Dmytro Babenko took a shot that was blocked by Matt Zenzola. Jackson Brewer was waiting on the back side and chipped in the rebound to cut the lead to one.
Less than one minute later, de Melo again sprinted to the bench to give the Dawgs an extra attacker. Massimo Lamacchia glided over the blue line on the left wing and dropped a pass for Brewer. Brewer then fired a snap shot that navigated traffic bounced past Zenzola, tying the game at three and forcing overtime.
The Rail Yard Dawgs won the opening draw in overtime and Murray charged in over the blue line. He barreled toward the net and fired a backhander that shot past Zenzola for the game-winning goal.
Murray’s goal scored seven seconds into overtime was the fastest overtime goal in SPHL history. It eclipsed the previous record of eight seconds, set when Fayetteville’s Dan Buccella scored a game-winner against Columbus on November 21, 2008.
Pensacola opened the scoring nearly five minutes into the second period. Josh Harris sent a stretch pass through center ice that sprung Corey Banfield for a breakaway. Banfield carried the puck in, deked to his backhand and roofed a shot over de Melo’s glove to give Pensacola a 1-0 lead.
The Dawgs would answer later in the middle frame. Murray carried the puck down the left wing and lofted a pass to Lamacchia speeding on net from the opposite side. Lamacchia quickly snapped a shot past the lunging Zenzola and Roanoke evened the game at one.
Pensacola regained the lead just past the halfway point in the third. Banfield carried the puck down the right wing and cut to the center of the ice. He left a pass for Louis Belisle who stuffed it past de Melo, putting the Ice Flyers on top. Almost three minutes later, Riley Spraggs beat de Melo with a wrist shot from the right wing to extend the lead to 3-1.
Murray notched a goal and an assist and de Melo stopped 37 of the 40 shots he faced in the victory. Brewer finished with two goals and an assist and Lamacchia had a goal and two assists
Roanoke improved to 11-17-5 with the win while Pensacola fell to 12-13-6. The Rail Yard Dawgs and Ice Flyers will complete their stretch of three consecutive games against one another on Saturday. Puck drop at the Pensacola Bay Center is set for 7:05 PM CST, 8:05 PM EST.
POSTGAME NOTES: Jackson Brewer recorded his first three-point game of the season in his first game back after missing the last 13 on injured reserve…Lamacchia now has three-point games in two of his last three
2017-18 Rail Yard Dawgs season tickets are on sale now! Seats can be reserved by visiting the Rail Yard Dawgs office inside of the Berglund Center or over the phone at 540-344-3294.
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