HUNTSVILLE – The Havoc emphatically ended their four-game losing streak Sunday evening by dominating the Evansville Thunderbolts 6 to 1.
“The team did a great job bouncing back after a tough week on the road,” said Havoc Head Coach Glenn Detulleo. “It was important to start our home stretch with a win. I thought we played better tonight in all facets of the game.”
Tyler Piacentini got the scoring started for Huntsville (24-14-2) just 73 seconds in to the game, firing a wrister from the right faceoff circle and past an Evansville defender. Midway through the period, Piacentini struck again on Huntsville’s only powerplay opportunity of the night. Ryan Salkeld passed to Ty, who was crossing just in front of the crease, and the diminutive forward shot the puck backwards between his own skates and between the pads of the Evansville goalie for the score.
The ‘Bolts (8-28-4) lit the lamp with 1:31 left in the period, making the score 2-1 heading in to the first intermission.
The second period was a quieter affair with no scores or penalties, but the Havoc may have been saving up for an explosive third period in front of the 5,506 fans in attendance.
At 5:02 in to the third, Kyle Sharkey took a shot through traffic from the left faceoff circle that found its way to the back of the net. Just over three minutes later, Salkeld corralled the puck deep in the zone and drove left in front of the crease. As the Evansville goalie followed him across, Salkeld stopped on a dime and the keeper slipped out of position, allowing the easy tap in goal and a 4-1 lead.
Scott Trask joined the scoring onslaught at 15:39 in to the third, taking a Nolan Kaisercross-zone pass, driving toward the goal and pulling the trigger past a diving Alex Murray. Just 20 seconds later, Colton Wolter capped the scoring by taking the puck from the end line and tucking it around the other side of the Evansville netminder.
Havoc keeper Max Milosek made 24 saves in the win, including a penalty shot save with 33 seconds left in the game. The home team outshot Evansville 30 to 25.
There were only four penalties called during the game, two of them concurrent roughing calls in the third.
Video highlights from the game can be found on the team’s YouTube channel.
Huntsville finishes the regular season series against Evansville with six wins. Their onlyblemish in the series was a 5-4 overtime loss in the Rocket City two weeks ago.
Piacentini has scored four goals in his last three games.
Trask has now eclipsed his goal total from last year’s championship season, scoring 19 points (9g, 10a) in 33 games. Last year, he scored 17 points (8g, 9a) in 52 games.
Salkeld has also set personal records this season, scoring 45 points (20g, 25a) in 40 games, eclipsing last season’s 44-point effort over 52 games.
Article/Picture credit: Huntsville Havoc
