Hockey: Houghton scores 5 goals in 3rd to beat Flivvers, 9-3
Gremlins’ 7 unanswered goals douses short Kingsford lead
IRON MOUNTAIN — Kingsford got to watch the Houghton Gremlins Show on Tuesday.
The Flivvers (3-1-1) wished they missed the episode in a 9-3 loss.
Houghton scored seven unanswered goal, including 18 shots in the third period.
“The third period was pitiful and they could sense it,” Kingsford coach Jim Peterson said. “They got the momentum, they were more aggressive hitting and we were back on our heels. We started playing afraid. They took it to us. A team like that — you’ve gotta stay aggressive.”
Kingsford and Houghton matched wits in the second period and for a short while held a narrow 3-2 lead. The two teams combined for four goals in less than five minutes. Dawson McKay starred in this performance with a four-point game including two goals and two assists. His late second period goal turned out to be the winner, assisted by Ty Halonen.
Houghton (3-3) ultimately found success on the forecheck, creating turnovers deep in the Kingsford zone including a handful of times in front of the net.
“There was an emphasis was getting pressure on their defense when we get the puck in deep,” Houghton coach Corey Markham said. “The first guy was able to do that and they were able to create the turnover from that pressure. That was a big part of our offense. It had to do with our forecheckers being on their toes.”
Markham said Kingsford rolled two lines most of the night and, against the forecheck, it might have played a part in the Flivvers getting tired in the third period.
Houghton’s 18 shots in the third period on Flivvers goaltender Trevor Anderson came as a result of the turnovers that turned into scoring opportunities. He finished the game with 39 saves.
Houghton goaltender Will Stier made 15 saves.
The Gremlins’ opportunities off the forecheck didn’t detract from the offense itself. Houghton put numerous quality shots on net. Jacob Kruse cruised down the right side and sniped a wrist shot over Anderson’s shoulder, dinging the bottom of the crossbar and finding the back of the net that tied the game 3-3 late in the second period. The goal was assisted by Ronald Olson and Casey Lentowich.
McKay raced a Kingsford defender on a potential break, took possession and dropped to a knee and shot the puck past Anderson for what ultimately became the winning goal. It was assisted by Ty Halonen.
Kingsford’s offense in the second period embodied what Peterson called before the season a strong offense. Led by Joe Murvich with two goals, the Flivvers sparked the offense with quick rushes into the zone and cuts to the net. Kingsford’s David Brule tied the game early in the second period when he cut from top of the circle down to the net and snuck a shot past Stier.
Kingsford hosts Negaunee on Monday, Dec. 12.
The Gremlins host Utica Eisenhower on Friday night and Rochester United on Saturday.
Houghton 1 3 5 — 9
Kingsford 0 3 0 — 3
First Period
H — Jacob Kruse (Dawson McKay, Justin Norkol), power play, 8:00.
Second Period
K — David Brule (Trent Juul, Daunte Fortner), 14:20.
H — Ronald Olson (unassisted), 12:53.
K — Joe Murvich (Ethan Fox), 12:24.
K — Murvich (Sawyer Perpich, Juul), 11:48.
H — Kruse (Olson, Casey Lentowich), 4:25.
H — McKay (Ty Halonen), 1:43.
Third Period
H — Clayton Sayen (Derrian Raffaelli, Halonen), 11:31.
H — Lentowich (Brendan Erickson), 8:33.
H — Sayen (McKay), 5:45.
H — McKay (Austin Goudge, Taavi Rajala), 3:33.
H — Raffaelli (unassisted), 1:22.