After failing to win three straight games, the Icecats recovered from their skid with a nail-biting 5-4 win against DC Stars on Friday, Dec. 8.
With losses to Whitman on Nov. 3, a tie against Churchill on Nov. 10 and a loss to Upper Montgomery on Nov. 21, the Icecats allowed 18 goals across the three games while scoring 13.
Upper Montgomery beat the Icecats despite entering with a 1-4-1 record, but managed to prevail 8-7, despite a valiant comeback effort from the Icecats trailing 8-5 with 7 minutes remaining. The game ended with 47 seconds of 6-on-4 play in the Icecat’s favor with an Upper Montgomery power play and an empty net, but the team was not able to score to tie.
The Icecats previously played DC Stars on Friday, Oct. 13, emerging with a 5-2 win. Heading into their rematch, the Stars had beaten only one team (Upper Montgomery) and had a 1-4-1 record.
Freshman defenseman Matthew Corwin opened scoring with a power play goal at 13 minutes into the game after a Stars minor penalty. In total, the Icecats went 1/2 on the power play.
“It felt really great to score the first goal in the game for our team and as a freshman, it feels good to contribute to the team’s success. During the power play, I am on the right wall and I can see the entire other side of the ice which is helpful to make plays,” Corwin said.
The second period saw scoring increase with a shorthanded goal by senior Adam Pyott, followed in quick succession by a power play goal from Thomas Cooperman. The Icecats struggled on the penalty kill Friday, letting in 3 goals on 7 power plays.
“I think the main problem is giving too many penalties which gives too many opportunities to the other team to score. Our penalty kill could work if we worked on blocking passing and shutting down shooting lanes,” junior Jaden Luskin said.
Goals by freshman Oliver Curtis and senior Sam Mayster brought the score up to 4-1 before a goal by Stars senior Eli Rubin closed the second period.
Curtis found the back of the net in the third period for the game-winning goal, although the mood would be slightly soured by two Stars power play goals around the 10-minute and 12-minute mark of the period. In total, the Icecats outshot the Stars 34-16, although freshman goalie Aden Perry recorded a save percentage of .750, in comparison to Stars goalie sophomore Anton Tracy’s .912.
“It felt pretty good to score the last goal of the game because we really needed it to clinch the win. Getting the win against DC Stars after our loss to Upper Montgomery has us back and ready for BCC, ” Curtis said.
With the win, the Icecats stand at 4-2-1, putting them fifth in the conference standings. The team will next face off against BCC (4-3-0) on Friday, Dec. 15 at 9:20 PM at the Rockville Ice Arena. In their previous matchup this season, the Icecats prevailed 6-4.
