The Niagara Falls Thunder went all the way into a shootout Saturday afternoon before dropping a 6-5 decision to the Connecticut Nighthawks at the International Skating Center of Connecticut. It was the second straight overtime game for these teams. Josh Alexander opened the scoring for the Nighthawks 3:48 into the first period. Jordon Fongemie and Darwin Anderson picked up the assists on the play. The Thunder tied it when Mickenzie Restle put one by the goaltender while shorthanded. Brandon Schweickert and Kevyn McElligott were credited with the assists. Niagara Falls then took the lead with 34 seconds left in the first period.Brendan Krawczyk’s power play goal had assists from Jacob Hurd and Jared Mately.
Tristan Englehardt extended the lead for the Thunder 6:19 into the second period. Joe Shanley and McElligott had the assists. Shea Flanagan scored for Connecticut with only five seconds left on the clock. The power play goal had assists coming from Tim Hazelton and Jake Bojarzin.
The Nighthawks tied the game when James Bone scored 1:09 into the third period. Brenden Patterson and Tucker Twardosky were credited with the assists. Connecticut retook the lead 7:40 into the period. Tim Hazelton, on the power play was assisted by Flanagan and Austin Marini.
Mickenzie Restle nabbed his second goal of the afternoon to tie it again for Niagara Falls. Shanley and Jacob Zwieg picked up the assists. Flanagan gave Connecticut a 5-4 lead with seven minutes left in regulation. Another power play goal, Hazleton and Marini picked up the assists. Shanley knotted the score with his own power play goal. Schweickert and Restle provided the assists.
The teams were unable to score in the overtime period, sending the game to the shootout. Schweickert scored on his chance for the Thunder. Denis Kuzminov and Matthew Loftus were each able to score to wrap up the win for the Nighthawks.
Mike Camasso made 30 saves in the win in net for the Nighthawks. Ryan Pascarella was able to turn away 35 of 40 shots for the Thunder. The Thunder was 2 for 5 on the power play, while the Nighthawks were 3 for 5 with the extra man.
Niagara Falls will continue their road trip with a visit to Rochester Friday afternoon for a match up with the Rochester Monarchs at 2pm. They will then travel to Syracuse for a pair of games Saturday and Sunday against the Syracuse Stars. The next home game at the Hyde Park Ice Pavilion will be Friday, November 2nd, at 7pm against the Rochester Monarchs.
Box Score:
1st Period-1, Connecticut Nighthawks, Alexander 1 (Fongemie, Anderson), 3:48. 2, Niagara Falls Thunder, Restle 4 (Schweickert, McElligott), 6:26 (SH). 3, Niagara Falls Thunder, Krawczyk 2 (Hurd, Matley), 19:26 (PP). Penalties-Matley Nft (tripping), 4:44; Zwieg Nft (holding), 15:55; Badeau Cnh (roughing), 15:55; Bone Cnh (cross-checking), 17:56.
2nd Period-4, Niagara Falls Thunder, Engelhardt 11 (Shanley, McElligott), 6:19. 5, Connecticut Nighthawks, Flanagan 7 (Hazelton, Bojarzin), 19:55 (PP). Penalties-Anderson Cnh (cross-checking), 9:17; Zwieg Nft (interference), 9:45; Patterson Cnh (tripping), 13:35; Schweickert Nft (holding), 13:59; Kuzminov Cnh (roughing), 13:59; Flanagan Cnh (tripping), 14:05; Hurd Nft (cross-checking), 19:10.
3rd Period-6, Connecticut Nighthawks, Bone 2 (Patterson, Twardosky), 1:09. 7, Connecticut Nighthawks, Hazelton 3 (Flanagan, Marini), 7:40 (PP). 8, Niagara Falls Thunder, Restle 5 (Shanley, Zwieg), 9:08. 9, Connecticut Nighthawks, Flanagan 8 (Marini, Hazelton), 13:09 (PP). 10, Niagara Falls Thunder, Shanley 6 (Schweickert, Restle), 14:40 (PP). Penalties-Restle Nft (holding), 5:41; Korpolinski Nft (bench -too many players on the ice), 13:01; Hazelton Cnh (cross-checking), 14:00.
1st OT Period- No Scoring.Penalties-No Penalties
Shootout - Niagara Falls Thunder 1 (Engelhardt NG, Schweickert G, Shanley NG), Connecticut Nighthawks 2 (Marini NG, Kuzminov G, Loftus G).
Shots on Goal-Niagara Falls Thunder 13-10-11-1-0-35. Connecticut Nighthawks 11-12-15-2-1-41.
Power Play Opportunities-Niagara Falls Thunder 2 / 5; Connecticut Nighthawks 3 / 5.
Goalies-Niagara Falls Thunder, Pascarella 3-3-0-1 (40 shots-35 saves). Connecticut Nighthawks, Camasso 4-0-1-1 (35 shots-30 saves).