Southern Connecticut Hockey League

Hamden,CT.

Despite trailing early in the game, the New Haven Mustangs came back from a 2 goal deficit and defeated the CT. Redwings 8-5 on Sunday night with the help of Mustangs goalie Dan Ells who made 45 saves, and hat-tricks from Dan Mauriello and Mike Acabbo.

The Redwings opened the scoring on goals from forwards Ben Castiline and Shawn Nutcher to take a 2-0 lead in the first period. Acabbo evened the score 2 minutes and 12 seconds later after receiving a pass from Mauriello to put the Mustangs within 1 goal. Mauriello tied the game shortly after to put both teams even on the scoreboard at 2-2. With frustration kicking in and the end of the period drawing near, Redwings captain Mike Nutcher took a pass in the neutral zone along the left side boards from defenseman Nick Sylvestre, carried the puck past a Mustang defenseman and beat Ells five-hole to regain the lead at 3-2.

At the start of the second period, both teams had tightened up defensively and neither team could generate much offense. The first of two goals in the period came from Mustang defenseman Dan Hearn who skated from deep in the defensive zone up to the Redwings blue line and blasted a low slapshot on the ice past Redwing goalie Anthony Avitable to tie the game at 3-3. At the 6:56 mark, Acabbo was called for interference and the Redwings had their second of 3 powerplay opportunities throughout the game but could not capitilize on either of them. The Mustangs would go on to take the lead heading into the third when forward Dan DiLauro intercepted a pass in the offensive zone and dished the puck to forward Sean Donahue who found Acabbo trailing in the slot to finish the play and go up 4-3.

The Redwings, only trailing by a goal, were quick to set the tempo at the start of the third, getting off a total of 10 shots within the first few minutes. Ells turned away many quality scoring chances that could have easily turned the lead back over to the Redwings. Mauriello added an insurance goal for the Mustangs on assists from Hearn and forward Kyle Amarone, but the Redwings continued to apply pressure on the forecheck and forward Blake Barone was able to find the back of the net with a slap shot from the top of the left face off circle to put the score at 5-4. With the game still within reach for the Redwings, the Mustangs needed a spark from someone to make sure the lead remained in their favor, and that's exactly what they got when Acabbo, a player known more for his patience with the puck and heavy shot, dangled by a Redwings defenseman and beat Avitable glove side to complete the hat-trick and put his team ahead 6-4.

The Mustangs added two more to the board on goals from Amarone and Mauriello late in the third to take a commanding 8-4 lead. Redwings defenseman Mike D'Angelo assisted on a goal by Barone with 1:55 remaining, his second of the night, but at that point it was to late with the end of the game going on to result in a final score of 8-5. Avitable finished the game with 35 saves for the Redwings. The two teams have one more game against each other next month before the start of the playoffs on Dec. 5. After going 0-2 against the Mustangs this season, you can bet the Redwings will be expecting a different outcome.