HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – The Huntsville Havoc battled for a comeback in the third period, falling short to the Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs in overtime on Sunday.
The first period saw fast and physical hockey. After a couple of body checks on both sides, the Dawgs got on the board first at 11:24.
The Dawgs extended their lead early in the second period, scoring a power-play goal at 2:17 after a holding penalty against the Havoc left them with a man advantage. Cole Reginato, assisted by Craig McCabe, answered a minute later, cutting the deficit in half and leaving the score at 2-1. Tensions soared, sticks covered the ice, and gloves came off, resulting in a collection of penalties before the second intermission.
Skating into the final period down by one, the Havoc fought hard for a late comeback. At 8:12, Josh Kestner capitalized on a power play after a hooking penalty against the Dawgs, equalizing the score at 2-2. Cole Reginato, assisted by Craig McCabe and Kevin Weaver-Vitale, put the Havoc up shortly after, scoring another power-play goal. With an interference call leaving the Havoc shorthanded and the Dawgs pulling their goalie, a brief stretch of 6-on-4 hockey ensued. The Dawgs tied the game on the power play with just a minute left in regulation, sending the game into overtime.
At 2:50 into overtime, the Dawgs scored their game winning goal, taking a 4-3 win.
Brian Wilson stopped 27-of-31 shots. Huntsville went 2-for-6 on the power play.
The Havoc will be on the road for their next game on Thursday, December 11 against the Pensacola Ice Flyers at the Pensacola Bay Center.
