Weekend Review 11/22 &11/23

      The Elmira Enforcers came to Delaware looking for back to back wins. They got that thanks to a 34 save performance from goaltender Troy Passingham. The final was 4-2 in a back and forth affair. Elmira has improved to 4-3-0-1-1, and Delaware fell to 2-7-0-0-0.

    The first period got started with an early power play for The Enforcers after Taylor Cutting took a tripping penalty 4:07 into the first. Andrew Harrison scored on the power-play on a beautiful feed from Sean Reynolds. Both teams then would exchange a few good scoring chances each way. Then late in the first, the Thunder would go to the man advantage with Hudson Michaeills in the box for tripping. The Thunder would pot a goal on a broken play; Evgenii Demin buried a bouncing puck from the low slot. After the first, it was 1-1.

    Just like the first, Elmira opened the scoring in period number two. It was a 5 on 3 power-play goal after Taylor Cutting was ejected for a boarding major, and Evan Mackintosh was in for a trip. It was Brandon Tucker scoring a tic-tac-toe goal from Mahfouz and Patterson at 4:45 of the second. Another penalty would lead to a goal, Kyle Stevens sat for a trip at 9:19 and Delaware made him pay. Jack Weng wristed an off-angle shot past Passingham to tie the game at two. An even-strength goal would finally be the next, Ahmed Mahfouz danced through the Delaware defense and took the lead back at 13:13. Elmira led 3-2 after 2.

      Elmira came out with a game plan in period 3, to shut down the neutral zone. Elmira held the Thunder to just 9 shots in period 3. They would add an empty netter late in the third and win the game 4-2. The goal was scored by Sean Reynolds. As The game expired, Alex Bassey and Ahmed Mahfouz got into it. Alex Bassey pummeled Ahmed Mahfouz in the fight. Both were given 5-minute majors for fighting. The rematch was going to be wild.

      The Delaware Thunder came into Saturday Night looking for revenge.  Elmira got the better of Delaware Friday Night, and they were looking to replicate that Saturday. Tensions were high after a fight to end the game last night. Elmira and Delaware were set to faceoff at 7:05.

    Elmira came out guns blazing with a great start peppering goaltender Aaron Taylor. Taylor stood on his head in the first stopping all 17 of Elmira’s shots. Things started to get a little chippy at the 12:55 mark of the first when a scrum in front of Elmira’s net ended in a game misconduct for Glen Patterson. Later in the first, Delaware would break the scoring open on an even-strength goal from Ryan Marker. Delaware led 1-0 after 1.

   Ryan Marker opened up the second period scoring as well on a beautiful play set up by Brandon Contratto and Dan Dicristofaro. Just a little over a minute later, Evan Mackintosh banged in a rebound in front to put Delaware up 3-0. At the 3:17 mark, the game would change. Elmira would score the next four goals of the game. Dustin Skinner was the first goalscorer on a great feed from Sean Reynolds. Next was Andrew Harrison just past the midway mark in the second. The tying goal came from Kyle Stevens on a pass from Ahmed Mahfouz and Brandon Tucker. With 2:15 to go in period 3, Brendan Hussey broke the tie shorthanded on an incredible play by Ahmed Mahfouz. After 2 it was 4-3 Elmira.

    Delaware got an early power-play to start the third, it was Hussey in the box for cross-checking. Ryan Marker made them pay with his third goal of the game to tie it back up. Once again, right at the halfway mark of the third Yianni Skropolis scored his first of the season to break the tie. Elmira scored the next goal as well, Brandon Tucker scored unassisted to make it 6-4. Delaware scored with just 1:47 to go in the game on an off-angle shot from Brennan Young. With a little push from Delaware, Elmira stood and scored in the empty net. JT Walters put the game on ice. 7-5 Elmira.