KNOXVILLE, TN – Colin Murray and Jeff Jones both scored and the Rail Yard Dawgs brought themselves within one in the final two minutes but their surge fell short as Roanoke was defeated by the Knoxville Ice Bears, 3-2, Sunday afternoon at the Knoxville Civic Coliseum.
The Rail Yard Dawgs struck first in the opening period. Zach Nieminen gained the zone on the left wing and fed Murray streaking toward the slot. Murray kicked the puck to his forehand and ripped a wrist shot past Hayden Stewart to make it 1-0.
Knoxville answered just 45 seconds later when Roberts Locans took a pass in the slot and slung a wrist shot past Brad Barone to tie the game.
Following a scoreless second period, the Ice Bears took the lead in the third while working on a power play. Locans was fed for a one-timer on the left-wing circle and he hammered it home. Knoxville extended that lead later in the period, again on a power play with Locans firing in a wrister from the right circle to make it 3-1.
The Rail Yard Dawgs pulled Barone for an extra attacker with just over two minutes to play in the third. Everett Thompson got the puck in the right wing corner and threw it toward the front of the net. Jones got his stick down and deflected it short side past Stewart to bring the Dawgs within one.
Roanoke again lifted Barone for the extra skater in the last minute but were unable to get the game-tying goal as the Dawgs fell, 3-2.
Murray and Jones both scored and Barone made 22 saves. Locans finished with a hat trick to lead the Knoxville attack.
The Rail Yard Dawgs fell to 20-17-3 while Knoxville improved to 21-14-5. Roanoke returns to action on the road on Friday night in Peoria against the Rivermen. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:15 PM CST at Carver Arena and the pregame show begins at 7:00 PM CST on the Haley Toyota Rail Yard Dawgs Hockey Network.
Article Credit: Rail Yard Dawgs
Photo: Sarah Hobday
