Two power-play goals combined with a shorthanded tally led Elmira to a 6-3 win over Hobart in an ECAC West contest Saturday night, putting Elmira into a tie for first place in the league with RIT.
The Soaring Eagles got on the board first at the 7:02 mark while down a man. Steve Kaye weaved around Hobart defenseman Trevor Gowan down the Statesman slot and wristed the puck high into the corner of the net for the tally.
A little over a minute later, Hobart answered to tie the game 1-1. Jerry Toomey sent a wrister from the top of the right faceoff circle that found the back of the net at 8:13.
Elmira continued the flurry of goals to retake the lead at 8:43. Defenseman Bob Siewert took a shot from the point through a crowd, and Jason Silverthorn tipped the puck midway to the net for the score and the 2-1 lead.
Hobart got into penalty trouble during the remainder of the first period, giving Elmira two separate 5-on-3 power plays. “Bad-habit penalties really cost us,” said Hobart coach Mark Taylor.
Indeed, Elmira converted on the second 5-on-3 when freshman Lawne Snyder scored on a big blast from the point at 15:17.
In the second, Hobart scored right off the bat to climb back into the game. Matt Pane tipped in a puck from the top of the crease just 12 seconds into the period and Elmira’s lead was cut to 3-2.
“I liked that the boys never gave up and kept with the system, even after we got down,” said Taylor.
The majority of the second period was played 5-on-5, and Hobart employed more pressure in the Elmira zone at even strength. The Statesmen used the goal early in the period to get back in the game, and sustained the momentum for most of it.
“Nick (Edling) has been playing well, and I thought he deserved the league start,” said Elmira coach Glenn Thomaris. “He made some nice saves tonight.”
Edling kept the Statesmen off the scoreboard through sustained pressure in the second period.
[Note: The official boxscore credited Hobart with only one shot on goal in the second. This is obviously incorrect, as this author personally saw at least eight Hobart shots on goal in that period.]
But late in the period, a mistake in the offensive zone cost Hobart. Statesman defenseman Chris Petrie pinched in from the point, and Elmira’s Adam Godfrey poked the puck past him. Godfrey was off to the races on the 2-on-1 breakaway and scored at 18:40 to restake Elmira to a 4-2 lead.
Elmira carried play a little more in the third period. Clark McPherson scored 4:34 in, and Eddie Cassie tallied on the power play at 13:35 to give Elmira a 6-2 lead.
A late major penalty on Elmira’s Bob Siewert gave Hobart a little life. Zach Mundy tallied on the ensuing power play to move the score to 6-3, and Taylor pulled his goalie for the 6-on-4 advantage, but neither team scored again as Elmira skated away with the 6-3 victory.
