January 29, 2018 at 2:31 p.m.
Hodag hockey rallies past Pacelli in OT
Hodag hockey rallies past Pacelli in OT
Bridger Flory tipped in a shot 2:42 into overtime and the Hodags overcame a two-goal, third-period deficit to defeat Stevens Point Pacelli 6-5 at the Rhinelander Ice Arena.
Pacelli scored four unanswered goals to take a 5-3 lead on the Hodags in the third period, but Rhinelander got power play scores from Cole Spaulding and Harlan Wojtusik to send the game into an extra session.
"We talked a lot about being a team that can win a tight game and can be in trouble and, instead of falling apart, coming back and finding a way to win," Hodag coach M.J. Laggis said. "I think the thing I liked the most is the resilience on the bench, the leadership. We have guys that made bad plays early on - from bad penalties to bad plays on pucks - and, suddenly, at the end, we found a way."
Up 3-1 midway through the second, the Hodags found themselves trailing by period's end after allowing three Pacelli goals, including two from starting winger Carter Snyder.
The Cardinals made it 5-3 lead 2:36 into the third on a goal by Daniel Mitch.
"We started out of the gate fast, 2-0, and just when you thought we were going to take control it went the opposite (way)," Laggis said. "Pacelli started hitting us. They gave us a ton of trouble in neutral ice with their regroup, and their breakout was lethal, and we weren't stopping it. We tried to make adjustments and we didn't do it."
But the Cardinals had a difficult time staying out of the penalty box. They sat seven times for 17 minutes in the contest, including two penalties that sparked Rhinelander's third-period rally. Mitch was taken for tripping 8:08 into the third and Spaulding responded with a goal at the 9:36 mark. Simultaneous to Spaulding's goal, Seth Shulfer was whistled for hooking and Wojtusik tied the game a short time later.
"That was a big Cole Spaulding goal and Harlan Wojtusik comes along and buries the equalizer," Laggis said. "When it was 5-5 I think the reason we didn't feel secure is because they were hitting us and having some great shifts and controlling us with great play. We battled it out."
Both teams registered two shots in the extra session, but the Hodags got the winner as Flory tipped in a Sam Tjugum shot from the point.
"We got an opportunity in overtime and we finished it," Laggis said. "Sam Tjugum made a really nice play. He got the puck, got it to the net and Bridger Flory did something he's as good as it gets at, that's going to the net, tipping a puck and being a leader."
Rhinelander came out of the gates fast, scoring twice in the first 3:46 of the contest. Freddy Wisner scored off a Matthias Schneider assist at the 1:05 mark and Abe Laggis doubled the lead less than three minutes later. Richard Zupan scored 8:11 into the first but Wisner restored the two-goal advantage with a power play tally 7:29 into the second.
Rhinelander outshot Pacelli 31-27 in the game. Seth Stafford made 22 stops in the win for the Hodags.
The Hodags travel to Tomahawk on Tuesday in a game with conference and seeding implications. Though Rhinelander defeated the Hatchets 6-0 back on Dec. 14, Tomahawk comes in off back-to-back wins over Pacelli and Lakeland.
Freelancer Bob Mainhardt contributed to this report.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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