Feb 24, 2017 | Jason | 1444 views
Rematch - same result
On Feb 22nd, the Hawks headed down the 401 to face off against Embro for a 5th time this season. Just like the first 4 games we knew it would be a close, fast, physical game.
The first couple minutes of games has been a nemisis for the Hawks and this one was no different, with a fluke shot 2 minutes into the game hitting Austin Topp's glove hand and trickling in to give Embro a quick 1-0 lead. The Hawks looking to strike back, had Owen Doolittle thwarted on a breakaway not once, but twice, before finally realizing that 3 times is a charm and stepped around the Embro goalie and slid it in to tie the game at 1. Justin Kerwin picked up the assist on the goal. After the opening goal, Topp found his game and made a couple of big saves including a sprawling breakaway toe save to keep the score tied going into the second period.
With both teams flying around the nice, and the game picking up the intensity, the Hawks found themselves with a powerplay part way thru the 2nd, and Evan Sibbick made them pay. After having a couple of chances from the blue line turned away earlier in the game, he was given some room to skate, and he wheeled over the blueline and snapped a powerful wrist shot past a frozen Embro netminder to give the Hawks a 2-1 lead.
Holding the slimmest of leads heading into the third period, the Hawks were looking to protect the lead, and had done a great job of doing so, until about 6 minutes remained in the period when an Embro defender carried the puck into the Hawks corner where he was able to walk out and stuff it passed Topp to square it up at 2. A little over a minute later, with Embro pressing for the go ahead goal, a scramble ensued in front of Austin, and a loose puck was jammed in to give Embro the lead back at 3-2. With Embro having the momentum and looking to add the lead, Austin was forced to make a huge save on a pass slid across the crease to keep it a one goal game. This gave the Hawks some momentum, and Carson Mitchell busted out on a 2 on 1, and made a hard decisive wrist shot just inside the far post to even things back up at 3 with 2 minutes to go. The last 2 minutes of the game brought frantic action in the Hawks end, forcing Topp to make a couple of big saves as the clock ticked down, and we had ourselves another tie against Embro.
Goals - Owen Doolittle, Evan Sibbick, Carson Mitchell
Assists - Justin Kerwin, Kaellum Meyer
Player of the game was Evan Sibbick for his terrific 2 way game tonight.
Next up is Saturday in the Hawks Nest against Waterford.