The Pittsburgh Vengeance answered Saturday evening’s 5-4 loss with an 8-4 drubbing of the Niagara Falls PowerHawks Sunday afternoon. Led by Lucas Kirk, who netted four goals, the Vengeance were able to take two points back to Pennsylvania on opening weekend of hockey in the NA3HL.
The game was quick paced right out of the gate, as opposed to Saturday evening when both teams took twenty minutes to feel out the competition. Kirk scored twice in 13 seconds to give the visitors an early 2-0 lead. The first goal, at 7:34, was assisted by Marks Mezsargs. The assists on the second one came from Mezsargs and Benjamin Oslick. The Vengeance carried that lead into the first intermission.
Pittsburgh extended the lead to 3-0 early in the second period at the very end of an odd 7-minute penalty to Niagara Falls’ Anthony Tomassi. Dominick Glavach was credited with the tally, assisted by Zachary Servidio. Kirk netted his hat trick halfway through the period, assisted by Oslick and Ian Edgar.
Andrew Logar took the goose egg off the scoreboard for the PowerHawks at 14:05 of the second period. Branden Tripi and Justin King were credited with the assists. The Vengeance regained their four goal lead at 16:15 off the stick of Mezsargs.
Michael Olszewski began the rally for Niagara Falls with a goal at 18:04, assisted by Frankie Bodami on the powerplay. Justin King closed the gap to 5-3 just 31 seconds later. Andrew Logar provided the assist. Heading into the third period, the PowerHawks were back in the game.
The third period went Pittsburgh’s way with three goals to extend their lead to 8-3. Kirk scored his fourth of the contest at 2:11. Justin Shepherd and Austen Zimmerman assisted. Justin Bioni made it 7-3 at 7:13. Glavach tallied at 16:40 to close out the scoring for Pittsburgh. Niagara Falls was able to grab one more goal when Olszewski scored at 18:03. The assists came from King and Matt Stewart. The PowerHawks were outshot 56-31. Jerah Siegel, who started the game in net for Niagara Falls, was replaced halfway through the second period after Kirk’s third goal. He was replaced by Hunter Norris. Siegel stopped 27 of 31 shots faced, while Norris turned away 21 of 25. Caden Shell stopped 27 of 31 shots faced for the visiting Vengeance.
Niagara Falls will be back in action at the Hyde Park Ice Pavilion Saturday and Sunday, September 16th and 17th, against the Jersey Shore Wildcats. Game time for Saturday’s game is 6:00pm, and 1:00pm for Sunday’s contest. All home games can be heard LIVE on niagaraswatercooler.com.