The Niagara Falls Thunder dropped a 4-3 overtime decision to the Connecticut Nighthawks in USPHL hockey action Friday evening. The same two teams will face off again Saturday at 1pm at the International Skating Center of Connecticut in Simsbury, Connecticut.Tristan Englehardt opened the scoring for the Thunder with the lone goal of the first period. Coming 5:45 into the frame, Kevyn McElligott and Mickenzie Restle provided the assists on the score.
Brendan Krawczyk gave Niagara Falls a 2-0 lead early in the second period. Jacob Hurd and Restle were credited with the assists. The Nighthawks scored seven seconds after Krawczyk’s goal to cut the visitor’s lead to 2-1 with a goal by Matthew Loftus. Tucker Twardosky and Brenden Patterson had the assists. Shea Flanagan tied the game with 25 seconds left in the period. Assists came from Denis Kuzminov and Tim Hazelton.
Mickenzie Restle gave the Thunder the lead once again with four minutes left in regulation. Krawczyk and Englehardt picked up the assists. Hazelton tied it for Connecticut one minute later on the power play, forcing an overtime. Austin Marini and Flanagan had the assists on the play.
Marini scored the game winner 26 seconds into the extra frame. Coming on another power play, Hazleton and Kuzminov lended the assists.
Matthew Radder made 34 saves in net for Connecticut while picking up the win. Kris Augustine turned away 22 shots for the Thunder. The Nighthawks were 2 for 4 on the power play, while Niagara Falls was 0 for 4.
Box Score:
1st Period-1, Niagara Falls Thunder, Engelhardt 10 (McElligott, Restle), 5:45. Penalties-Badeau Cnh (hooking), 1:50; Schweickert Nft (holding), 15:24.
2nd Period-2, Niagara Falls Thunder, Krawczyk 1 (Hurd, Restle), 5:48. 3, Connecticut Nighthawks, Loftus 4 (Twardosky, Patterson), 5:55. 4, Connecticut Nighthawks, Flanagan 6 (Kuzminov, Hazelton), 19:35. Penalties-Muecke Nft (interference), 6:59; Izzo Cnh (holding), 16:32.
3rd Period-5, Niagara Falls Thunder, Restle 3 (Krawczyk, Engelhardt), 16:02. 6, Connecticut Nighthawks, Hazelton 2 (Marini, Flanagan), 17:03 (PP). Penalties-Kuzminov Cnh (elbowing), 0:18; Badeau Cnh (boarding), 1:12; Tonzi Nft (boarding), 17:03; Engelhardt Nft (cross-checking), 18:48.
1st OT Period-7, Connecticut Nighthawks, Marini 10 (Hazelton, Kuzminov), 0:26 (PP). Penalties-No Penalties
Shots on Goal-Niagara Falls Thunder 12-13-12-0-37. Connecticut Nighthawks 6-10-9-1-26.
Power Play Opportunities-Niagara Falls Thunder 0 / 4; Connecticut Nighthawks 2 / 4.
Goalies-Niagara Falls Thunder, Augustine 3-1-1-0 (26 shots-22 saves). Connecticut Nighthawks, Radder 5-0-0-0 (37 shots-34 saves).