For Immediate Release:
March 10, 2017
RAIL YARD DAWGS CLIP HAVOC IN SHOOTOUT, 4-3
James Kruger stops 46 in the victory
HUNTSVILLE, Ala – Zach Tatrn tied the game in the third period to force overtime, James Kruger made 46 saves on 49 shots and the Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs defeated the Huntsville Havoc in a shootout, 4-3, Friday night at the Von Braun Center.
Trailing 3-2 in the third period, Roanoke went to work on a 5-on-3 power play. Jackson Brewer teed up Tatrn for a one-timer from the left faceoff circle and he blistered it past Tyler Steel to tie the game at three.
It remained 3-3 through the remainder of the third period and overtime as the game moved to a shootout. In the fifth round with each team having converted once, Kruger stopped John Clewlow’s attempt, sending Daniel Vernace to the ice with a chance to win the game. Vernace glided in and ripped a wrist shot over Steel’s glove, giving Roanoke the decisive shootout goal and a 4-3 victory.
It was Roanoke’s first shootout win and first win over Huntsville this season.
The Rail Yard Dawgs got on the board first in the opening frame. Mike Driscoll controlled the puck in the left wing corner and saucered a pass to Jeremy Beirnes in the slot. Beirnes one-timed the puck past Steel and gave the Dawgs a 1-0 lead.
Roanoke would add to its advantage later in the first period. While working on the power play, Riley Spraggs found open space at the left wing circle. He sniped a wrist shot to the top right corner and the Rail Yard Dawgs extended their advantage to 2-0.
Beirnes’ goal was his first of the season and his first as a Rail Yard Dawg. Spraggs also netted his first goal in a Roanoke sweater.
Huntsville would fight back in the second period to the tune of three unanswered goals. Jordan Wood drove the net and was stoned by Kruger but Stuart Stefan was able to chip the rebound home to make it 2-1. Wood later tied the game and it was Stefan who gave the Havoc the lead with a power play marker that squirted through Kruger on a bad bounce.
Nick Schneider recorded the lone multi-point game for the Dawgs with a pair of assists and Kruger recorded 46 saves in the victory. Roanoke snapped a four-game losing streak and improved to 15-25-6 while Huntsville fell to 29-11-5.
The Rail Yard Dawgs will finish the weekend road trip in Southaven against the Mississippi RiverKings on Saturday. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 PM CST at the Landers Center.
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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