Outlaws Come up 2 Seconds Short against Eagles

In a tight game which neither team ever led by more than one goal, the Eagles scored last and won 4-3 over the Outlaws Tuesday night at Kirkwood.  As usual, the Outlaws spotted their opposition an early goal, as Bob Vallino stood at the side of the Outlaws net and deflected in a pass from Eagles captain Mark Perkins during the second shift of the game.  But before the first period was over, the Outlaws scored a pair to pull ahead 2-1 at the first intermission, despite being outshot 9-7.

Midway through the first, Outlaws utility player Dave Howard, playing wing on a line with Jim Owens and Doug Bennett, got off a shot which fought its way off the pads of Eagles goalie Matt Heath and into the net to even the score at one.  Two minutes later, Joe Wallington fired a shot cleanly past Heath, with assists from his usual linemates, Ryan Kromann and Sean McCloskey.

The Outlaws were given every opportunity to expand on their lead in the second period, as the Eagles were assessed 4 minor penalties.  With Daniel Suchanek in the box for tripping, Daniel Fields kicked at the puck attempting to clear it at the blue line.  Instead, he tripped Outlaw defenseman John DePeneloza.  When Fields was called for the penalty, his excessive protests earned him an additional minor.  The Outlaws 5-on-3 began with a thud, as the Eagles Mark Going worked his way past the Outlaw defense and scored past Craig Schellenbach, who had no chance on the breakaway.  The Outlaws were unable to mount any effective pressure on the extended power play, and were even outshot again by two for the period.  After two, the score was tied 2-2.

Shortly after the third period began, the Eagles took a 3-2 lead through a combination of pressure and good fortune.  Going again rushed the puck up-ice, but was forced behind the Outlaw goal by the defense.  As he circled the net, he centered the puck, which bounced off Dan Mecklenberg’s skate and into the goal.  The Outlaws had the better of the play for the remainder of the third, but were unable to score until Wallington netted his second of the game with just over a minute remaining to tie the score 3-3.

But the Outlaws proved unable to hold on until overtime, as a shot from Bob Vallino found its way between Schellenbach’s pads with 2 second remaining.  The Outlaws disputed the goal, arguing that the ref had blown the whistle with Schellenbach covering the puck outside the goal.  But this discussion went as well as most arguments with refs do, and the goal stood.

The Outlaws outshot the Eagles 12-5 for the third period, and as a result outshot the Eagles 25-22 for the game.  But the Outlaws lose the game 4-3.  With the loss, the Outlaws miss an opportunity to move out of a second-place tie with the Shock.  The Eagles climb ahead of the IceDogs into fourth place in the division.  The Outlaws next game will be against the division-leading Hornets, at 9:45 Monday, January 19th at Kirkwood.  Game time will be 9:45.