Dayton Gems game story by Kimberly Garlick

Gems force OT with late goal, but lose to Icemen

By Kimberly Garlick

Dayton’s league-worst penalty kill contributed to the Gems’ 3-2 overtime loss to the Evansville Icemen on Saturday night.

The game opened with an early penalty by Dayton, a tripping call against Kyle Bochek at 5:07. Dayton was close to killing this penalty when the Icemen managed to score with nine seconds left on the infraction.

The score was held at 1-0 for the rest of the first period as well as most of the way through the second. But with under a minute left in the second, Iceman Mark Cody collected a pass as he was stepping out of the penalty box. He then went in alone on Dayton’s goaltender, Bryan Hogan, putting it past him with only 17 seconds left in the period.

Dayton came out of the second intermission with a new intensity. They were fighting hard for pucks and intentionally getting players in front of Evansville’s goalie. And just four minutes into the third period Dayton Gem Jonathan Ornelas was able to score a chip-in goal on a delayed penalty call.

Later in the period, after much scrappy play by both sides, the Gems found themselves on a 5-on-3. Unfortunately, they could not take advantage of this opportunity. Then on a delayed penalty call in the last minute of play in regulation, Dayton was able to capitalize with an extra attacker on the ice. Nick Fanto, who had made his way in front of the net, scored with 19 seconds remaining on the clock, sending his team to overtime.

But the Gems’ comeback was foiled ultimately by their penalty kill. With Ornelas in the box for holding, the Icemen were able to score on a snapshot with only 46.7 remaining in the extra frame. This was the second consecutive game in which Evansville (5-0-1) has beaten Dayton (2-3-3) with a one-goal difference, though Dayton has outshot the Icemen both times. At least this time the Gems were able to gain a point in the standings.

Looking to the future, captain Greg Labenski said that playing harder in the first two periods of each game is something that the team has to continue to work on.

“I thought we came to play in the third, but it’s almost like it was a little too late even though we tied it up and went to overtime,” he said. “We left a lot out there the first two periods.”

And this drive does not necessarily translate into getting shots, because Dayton has outshot the Icemen in two straight games. However, so far on the season, Dayton has only scored 22 goals, whereas their opponents have combined for 30 goals against the Gems. Labenski said that getting players in front of the net is crucial for scoring goals. That’s how the Gems scored both of their goals Saturday.

“It’s doesn’t have to be pretty goal all the time,” Labenski said. “It can be one of those hard-working goals where you go in front of the net and it bounces off you and goes in. Those are the goals that you really want to have.”