For immediate release
For more information, contact: Joel Silverberg, Director of Broadcasting (865) 525-7825, joel@knoxvilleicebears.com.
Marco Costantini stopped 36-of-37 shots for his second win in as many nights and the Knoxville Ice Bears defeated the Macon Mayhem 4-1 at the Macon Coliseum Saturday night.
Four different players scored for Knoxville, which has won five straight and seven of its last eight. Macon has dropped ten of its last 11 games.
Knoxville struggled to establish possession early and was outshot 12-3 in the first period. The Ice Bears killed off a pair of Macon power plays in the first. Costantini stopped Macon’s best scoring chance of the first period when he gloved a one-timer from in front of the crease to end a three-on-one with 3:23 remaining.
Jordy Stallard broke the tie early in the second with a power play goal at 1:35. Stallard perched himself atop the right circle where Jason Price slid the puck to him. Stallard teed off for a one-timer that beat Josh Boyko’s blocker up high for his seventh goal of the season.
Derek Osik stole the puck behind the Mayhem net and slipped it out to Kirill Nizhnikov to the left side of the crease. Nizhnikov tapped it across to the backdoor where Tyler Rollo put it on net for his fourth goal in five games to give the Ice Bears a 2-0 lead at 6:49 of the second.
Troy Murray scored his first as an Ice Bear with a snapshot from the slot at 15:11 of the third. Justin Levac fed a between-the-legs pass to Brendan Dowler, who slipped it from the right wall to Murray in the high slot. Murray faked his initial shot and got Brad Jenion to bite on it. Murray released his shot past Boyko to make it 3-0.
Michael McChesney spoiled the shutout after Macon stole the puck in the Knoxville zone and McChesney slipped it under Costantini with 1:32 remaining.
Cole McKechney scored on an empty net with 32 seconds left to finish the scoring detail. Boyko finished with 18 saves.
The Ice Bears return to Knoxville for their longest homestead of the season. The six-game stretch begins on Friday against Roanoke. Macon hosts Fayetteville next Saturday.
ABOUT The Knoxville Ice Bears: The Knoxville Ice Bears organization began in 2002 and was an inaugural charter member of the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL) in 2004. As four-time SPHL Champions and five-time regular season champions, the Ice Bears are an experienced and established organization, offering the city and its visitors a balanced product of highlight-reel hockey, unique and exciting intermission activity and endless fan interaction, presenting the most affordable, family-friendly way to enjoy sports and entertainment. Season, Partial Season and Flex Tickets are now on sale. For more information, visit www.knoxvilleicebears.com or call (865) 525-7825.
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