For Immediate Release:
February 23, 2018
ROANOKE EDGES MISSISSIPPI, 3-2
Late penalty kill vaults Rail Yard Dawgs to eighth straight win
SOUTHAVEN, MS – Brad Barone made 37 saves, Phil Bronner, Daniel Vernace and Zach Tatrn each scored and the Rail Yard Dawgs killed off a late five-on-three power play as they held on to defeat the Mississippi RiverKings, 3-2, Friday night at Landers Center. Roanoke’s win was its eighth in a row.
With the game tied at two just past the halfway point in the third period, the Rail Yard Dawgs went to the power play. Joe Sova controlled the puck behind the net and worked it to Maxime Guyon on the left wing boards. Guyon fired a pass in front to Bronner, who steered a shot on net. Tyler Green made the initial save but Bronner gathered his rebound and chipped it over Green’s glove to put the Dawgs on top.
Roanoke would be forced to the penalty kill with just under three minutes to play as Eric Witzel was called for a two-minute minor. During the midst of the kill, Steve Mele was whistled for a major penalty for kneeing and the Dawgs had to work with a two-man disadvantage. Mississippi opted to pull Green for an extra attacker and had 52 seconds of a six-on-three, during which they were unable to get anything past Barone. Witzel was freed of the penalty box with 59 seconds remaining in the game and the Dawgs managed to kill of the remainder of the penalty and hold on for a 3-2 win.
The Dawgs extended their franchise-record winning streak to eight games and vaulted past Mississippi into seventh place with the win.
Roanoke got the scoring started in the first period as Nick Schneider found the puck in the high slot. He fed Tatrn at the right-wing circle for a snap shot that sailed past Green’s glove to make it 1-0.
The Rail Yard Dawgs added to that led late in the first on a gorgeous goal from Vernace. Schneider led the charge into the attacking zone and passed to Vernace down the left wing. He deked to his backhand and roofed a shot over Green’s blocker side to make it 2-0.
Mississippi fought back when Matt Harrington banged home a rebound goal in the second. It tied the game at two on Devin Mantha’s power play goal early in the third period.
Schneider had two assists, Tatrn, Bronner and Vernace each recorded goals and Guyon had an assist in his first game with the Dawgs. Barone stopped 37 of the 39 shots he faced to earn the win in net. The Rail Yard Dawgs were out-shot by the RiverKings, 39-21, in the win.
Roanoke improved to 19-19-3 with the victory while Mississippi fell to 19-19-2. The Rail Yard Dawgs and RiverKings will play again on Saturday night in Southaven. Puck drop at Landers Center is scheduled for 7:00 PM CST.
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