Thursday, January 20th, 2022 Creston 3 Rockets 2
The first of a two-game set with the ThunderCats at the Plywood Palace last night started out a bit dubious, as the Rockets took a hooking penalty just :46 seconds into the game. But a good penalty-kill kept things scoreless.
The Rockets were first to hit the scoreboard, at 8:54 when Dominic Fiorentino’s solid and accurate wristshot from the right side found its way under the crossbar. It was Dominic’s first tally of the season.
Before the first period ended however, at 16:11 Creston tied things up at 1-1 with a Landon Hedges shot that handcuffed Golden netminder Levi Hall.
In the middle frame the Rockets had a great chance to move into the lead, as Will Vernon stepped out of the penalty box and into a breakaway. But Carlos Siso in the Cats cage came up with a sparkling save.
The visitors moved into a 3-1 by period’s end with a pair of goals, the eventual winning tally came on a Creston power play with just :34 seconds remaining in the period.
Golden managed to get close at 3-2 in the third period when captain Jordan Lario turned on the jets (he skated miles all night), and connected for a shorthanded marker at 2:30 with a patented wristshot over the goalie’s glove to the top corner. Rocket’s pulled their netminder with a minute and a half remaining, but couldn’t find the equalizer.
Final score was 3-2. Creston outshot Golden 44-27.
The Rockets are now a full 10 points behind the ThunderCats for fourth place in the Eddie Mountain Division standings. They still have two games in hand though. The club will be looking to rebound in tonight’s rematch and close that gap once again.
