Huntsville, AL - The Huntsville Havoc are officially on a roll.
After a rough first half of the season, the red & black have now won four games in a row - most of them come from behind, overtime victories at home.
Friday night, the Havoc once again hosted the Pensacola Ice Flyers at the VBC, and once again, the visitors drew first blood. Pensacola's Andrew Howes slipped the puck past Matt Hache less than five minutes into the period, to put his team up 1-0. The Havoc were able to answer a short time later when Justin Fox found a rebounded Ray Ortiz shot and slammed it home. Pensacola would add another goal before the first period ended to give them a 2-1 lead in the first intermission.
Glenn Detulleo tied the game at 2 late in the second period, but Pensacola regained the lead early in the third. A controversial Ryan Kretzer goal tied things up at 3. As the Havoc players crashed the net, it became dislodged as the puck crossed the line. The Pensacola players loudly protested, saying the goal should have been disallowed, but referee Brady Johnson wasn't hearing it.
Both teams continued to press the attack as the third period came to an end, but neither were able to take the final lead. After five minutes of overtime, the score remained unchanged and a shootout began.
Havoc netminder Matt Hache was brilliant during the shootout, denying four of the five Pensacola players who stepped up to challenge him. On the other end, Ryan Kretzer scored in the Havoc's first attempt, but Glenn Detulleo was denied. Next on the ice was Justin Fox, who faked left, went right and slid the puck past Pensacola goalie Corey Milan. The final chance for Pensacola fell to former Havoc fan favorite Mike Carter, but Hache's left pad denied the shot, and the Havoc spilled over the boards in celebration.
The Havoc will try for their 5th straight win with another game against Pensacola Saturday night at the VBC. The Havoc will be honoring HEMSI paramedics, and police and fire officials in the third annual First Responders Night.
