Knoxville Ice Bears

Ice Bears bully Havoc for 2-0 lead

date: 03/27/2009

Another sloppy start for goalie Andrew Gallant couldn't deter Tim Vitek and the Ice Bears from taking a commanding 2-0 series lead against Huntsville. Behind Vitek's one goal and three assists, the Ice Bears used four unanswered goals to defeat the Havoc 4-2.

After being outshot 21-8 in the first period, it was only a matter of time before the puck crossed the line. Huntsville's Ed Campbell netted a shorthanded goal after Gallant mishandled a clearing chance. He bobbled the puck 8:30 into the period, allowing Huntsville to gain possession and Campbell knocked in his shot with Gallant still fumbling to return between the pipes. With 5:12 to go in the period, Billy Tibbets released a shot from the top of the circle during a powerplay. Gallant saved the shot off his pads but exposed the left side of the net in the process, giving BJ Radovich a goal and the Havoc a 2-0 lead.

Mike Carter gave Knoxville a powerplay goal of their own 2:27 into the second period, putting a wrister from the top of the left circle behind Huntsville goalie Tim Haun. Carter's second goal of the postseason halved the lead 2-1. Shaun Norrie equalized the game eight minutes later on another powerplay, putting a one-timer past Haun.
Scoring their third powerplay goal of the night, Knoxville took a 3-2 lead after Kevin Harris rifled in a Kevin Swider assist 6:54 into the third. Campbell had been sent to the penalty box ten seconds earlier for holding, giving the Ice Bears a one-man advantage. Following a faceoff with 1:37 left in the game, Vitek blasted a shot under the crossbar, shooting away from his momentum to give the Ice Bears an insurmountable 4-2 lead.

The series now shifts to Huntsville, where the Ice Bears only need to win one game to secure a berth in the SPHL Championship series.

By Anthony Geist

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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