Southern Connecticut Hockey League

Hamden,CT.

The CT. Redwings defeated the CT. Gators 10-4 on Sunday night in what was a tight game for the first two periods. A third period scoring surge from the Redwings overwhelmed the Gators who outshot their opponent 38-35 and had just as much puck possesion if not more than the Redwings throughout the entire game.

Forward Shawn Nutcher opened the scoring for the Redwings at the 12:30 mark of the first period after taking a pass from forward Blake Barone and then beating Gators goaltender Kyle Sagnella. Barone would go on to tally 6 assists on the night. Forward Doug Henrici scored on a rebound 8 minutes later, assisted by forward Ralph Difonzo, to give the Redwings a 2-0 lead. It took the Redwings just 30 seconds to find the back of the net after their last goal when Shawn Nutcher scored his 2nd of the night on a shot from inside the left faceoff circle. Redwings forward Ben Castiline was called for tripping and sent the Gators on the powerplay but no quality scoring chances were able to be generated as the Redwings killed off the penalty. The Gators trailing by 3 answered back with 6 seconds remaining in the period when forward Richard Naumann took a pass from defenseman John Poapst, skated into the offensive zone on the right side boards and fired slap shot from just under the blue line that beat Redwings goalie Anthony Avitable to put the score at 3-1 heading into the second period.

The Gators, determined to tie the game, came out flying in second period. Poapst scored at 9:59 mark on a shot from inside the slot that put the Gators behind by 1 goal. The goal was assisted by forward Chris Mokos and Naumann. The Redwings were quick to respond after Barone fed forward Mike Nutcher a pass that sent him on a breakaway and then on to beat Sagnella. Mike Nutcher finished with 3 goals and 1 assist. Gators defenseman Les Hrapchak responded with a goal after taking a pass in the slot from forward Scott McDougall, and putting a shot past Avitable on his lower left side. Forward Jeremy Coccaro also assisted on the goal that put the score at 4-3 to end the period with the Redwings still ahead.

The first few minutes of the third period remained close between both teams, but the Redwings would strike first when defenseman Mike D'Angelo dished the puck to Barone who had a 2 on 1 with Shawn Nutcher. Barone slid the puck across to Nutcher who finished the play and scored his third goal of the night. Shawn Nutcher recorded 4 goals and 2 assists to earn the first star of the game. The Redwings would go on to score another 5 goals in the third period on goals from Shawn Nutcher, Barone, Mike Nutcher, forwards Brian Roche and CJ Hedges. The Gators would score once more at the end of the period when Hrapchak took a pass from forward Andy Smet, and then beat Avitable with a wrap around with 1:39 remaining in the game.

Anthony Avitable made 34 saves for the Redwings, while Kyle Sagnella made 25 saves for the Gators.