For Immediate Release:
February 16, 2019
NIEMINEN, DAWGS, DROP HUNTSVILLE, 4-3
Zach Nieminen nets two in the third in Roanoke win
ROANOKE, Va. – Zach Nieminen scored twice, Cameron Dimmitt had a goal and an assist and the Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs edged the Huntsville Havoc, 4-3, Saturday night at Berglund Center.
Roanoke started the scoring just past the halfway point of the first period. Everett Thompson forced a turnover along his own blue line and sprinted in with Dimmitt on his wing. Thompson faked a wrist shot and slid a pass to Dimmitt who chipped the puck over the lunging Mike DeLavergne to put the Dawgs on the board.
They added to that lead late in the first while skating four-on-four. Colin Murray burned toward the net and deked to his forehand but couldn’t stuff the puck home. Travis Armstrong however was crashing the net and banged home the rebound, extending the Roanoke lead to 2-0.
Huntsville netted a pair in the second to tie the game. First, with the Havoc on a power play, Ryan Salkeld deflected a shot from the point that squirted through Jacob Caffrey. Just over a minute later, Sy Nutkevitch hit Tyler Piacentini with a pass on the back door that Piacentini guided into the net, evening the score at two.
Following the Piacentini goal, the Dawgs pulled Caffrey in favor of Brad Barone. Caffrey finished with 18 saves on 20 shots.
Roanoke would regain the lead in the first minute of the third period. Brian Rowland took a pass at the blue line and fired a shot that Nieminen deflected through the legs of DeLavernge to make it 3-2.
The Dawgs added to that lead later in the third after Rowland forced a turnover and swung behind the net. He slid a pass across the crease to Nieminen who knocked it home and the Roanoke lead swelled to two.
Huntsville answered 30 seconds later as Sy Nutkevitch got a loose puck in front and snapped it five hole on Barone. The Havoc kept up the pressure in the third but couldn’t get the equalizer as the Rail Yard Dawgs held on for the win.
Nieminen scored twice, Rowland had two assists, Dimmit put up a goal and an assist and Barone made 10 saves on 11 shots to earn the win in net.
The Rail Yard Dawgs improved to 20-16-3 while Huntsville fell to 23-14-2. Roanoke completes its weekend of three games in three days on Sunday afternoon in Knoxville against the Ice Bears. Puck drop is scheduled for 3:30 PM at the Knoxville Civic Coliseum and the pregame show on the Haley Toyota Rail Yard Dawgs Hockey Network begins at 3:15 PM.
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