For Immediate Release:
March 8, 2019
DAWGS TAKE OUT ICE FLYERS IN SHOOTOUT, 4-3
Jeff Jones nets game-winner in the shootout
PENSACOLA Fla. – Mac Jansen’s third period goal forced overtime and Jeff Jones scored twice in the shootout as the Rail Yard Dawgs came from behind and beat the Pensacola Ice Flyers, 4-3, Friday night at the Pensacola Bay Center. Jacob Caffrey made 34 saves and stopped six in the shootout to earn the win in net.
With the Dawgs trailing, 3-2, in the third period, Alex Adams took a slap shot from the point. It was redirected in front of the net by Jansen and skipped between the legs of Brian Billett, tying the game at three.
The score remained tied through the remainder of regulation and the two teams moved into overtime. Pensacola registered four shots in the frame, all of which were turned aside by Caffrey. Roanoke had a chance in the final seconds but Colin Murray’s pass skipped off the stick of Cam Owens and the horn sounded, pushing the two teams to a shootout.
Pensacola scored on its first chance as Matt Johnson beat Caffrey but the Dawgs evened it at one in the third round as Travis Armstrong bested Billett. Jeff Jones then gave Roanoke the advantage with a top shelf goal and the Ice Flyers held serve as Brett D’Andrea scored. That would be all Caffrey would allow though as he stopped the next four chances and Jones scored again in the eighth round, giving the Rail Yard Dawgs the 4-3 victory.
The Dawgs improved to 2-1 in shootouts this season and snapped Pensacola’s five-game winning streak in the victory.
Pensacola opened the scoring just past the halfway point of the first period. The Ice Flyers gained the zone with a three-on-two rush and Garrett Milan ripped a shot top shelf past Caffrey to make the score 1-1.
The Rail Yard Dawgs tied the score five minutes later as Adrian Carbonara gained the zone on the left wing. He shook off two defensemen and fed a pass to Steve Mele even with the goal line. Mele dragged the puck from his backhand to his forehand and slid it past Billett, evening the game at one.
The Ice Flyers took the lead back just past the halfway point of the second period when Milan went top shelf after carrying the puck coast-to-coast.That lead was erased about five minutes later after Colin Murray fed Travis Armstrong cutting toward the net. Armstrong moved the puck to his backhand and slid it past Billett to tie the score at two.
It took Pensacola less than a minute to take the lead back however as Nathan Bruyere fed Matt Johnson in the slot. Johnson’s snap shot rocketed past Caffrey and the Ice Flyers took a 3-2 lead into the second intermission.
Caffrey finished with 34 saves on 37 shots and stopped six of eight in the shootout and nine different skaters recorded a point for the Dawgs. The Rail Yard Dawgs’ win represents only the second time this season it has won a game after trailing entering the third period.
Roanoke improved to 23-20-4 in the victory while Pensacola moved to 20-21-5. The Dawgs and Ice Flyers square off again on Saturday night. Puck drop at the Pensacola Bay Center is scheduled for 7:05 PM CST and the pregame show on the Haley Toyota Rail Yard Dawgs Hockey Network begins at 6:50 PM CST.
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