For Immediate Release:
November 25, 2016
ROANOKE FALLS SHORT IN KNOXVILLE, 2-1
Knoxville’s Brian Billett makes 38 saves in Dawgs third straight loss
KNOXVILLE, Tn – Massimo Lamacchia scored for the fifth time in his last six games but the Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs went 0-for-5 on the power play and were defeated by the Knoxville Ice Bears, 2-1, Friday night at the Knoxville Civic Coliseum. Roanoke out-shot Knoxville, 39-26, but suffered its third straight loss.
Knoxville struck first nearly five minutes into the game. Mark Pustin found Spencer Metcalfe at the left point just inside of the blue line. He fired a shot through traffic that snuck past Ryan de Melo and gave the Ice Bears a 1-0 lead.
The Ice Bears kept the momentum in the first half of the second period, converting a scoring chance at the 8:50 mark. Jake Rivera found Kyle McNeil in the slot who slung a shot that de Melo lunged for and deflected with his stick. The puck caromed up and over de Melo, bouncing over the goal line to extend the Knoxville lead to 2-0.
The two-goal lead would not last long however as the Dawgs countered just 57 seconds later. David Gandara carried the puck over the blue line on the left wing and found Tyler Gjurich in the slot. Gjurich quickly slid a pass to the left post where Massimo Lamacchia slapped it past Brian Billett to put Roanoke on the board.
Lamacchia’s goal was his fifth of the season, matching Gjurich’s team-leading total. Roanoke put 19 shots on net in the second period, the most shots it had totaled in a single period this season.
The Rail Yard Dawgs had their chances in the third but Billett stood strong in net for Knoxville. In the final moments with de Melo pulled for the extra attacker, Gjurich had a chance at the doorstep but hit the outside of the net and the horn sounded. Billett stopped 11 shots in the third period and the Ice Bears held on for the 2-1 victory.
Gjurich picked up an assist and put a game-high six shots on net. de Melo made 24 saves on 26 shots in the losing effort. Billett made 38 saves on 39 shots and stopped each of Roanoke’s final 25 shots on net to earn the win.
Roanoke lost its third straight game and fell to 4-5-2 while Knoxville improved to 9-3-0 with the win. The Rail Yard Dawgs will continue the weekend road swing on Saturday in North Carolina against the Fayetteville FireAntz at 7:30 PM.
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