Flames senior forward Kam Ottenbreit maneuvers the puck around an Adrian College player in a game played last season at the LaHaye Ice Center. (Photos by Chase Reed)
Fourth-ranked Flames upend No. 2 Bulldogs, 2-1, on breakaway steals in the third period
10/13/2023 10:57:00 PM | Men's D1 Hockey
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Liberty overcame a 1-0 deficit with a shorthanded equalizer by Kam Ottenbreit and game winner by Jacob Kalandyk in a rapid succession.
Taking on an undefeated, No. 2-ranked Adrian College team that had outscored its opponents by a 47-3 margin through six games, Liberty University's fourth-ranked ACHA Division I men's hockey team showcased its potent penalty kill as it staged a monumental, 2-1 come-from-behind upset on Friday night at Arrington Ice Arena.
"They really kind of took it to us in the first half of the first period, yet, you find a way to win," Flames Head Coach Kirk Handy said after the Bulldogs outshot Liberty 11-6 in the first period, 11-8 in the second, 11-10 in the third, and 33-24 for the contest. "The power play was a little silent tonight, and our PK came through big-time for us. That's been a big part of our team. We have a lot of trust in our PK and they were excellent again tonight." Sophomore defenseman Colten Kovich skid-stops in front of an Adrian forward.
The Flames (4-3-1) killed off four Adrian power plays and senior forward Kam Ottenbreit scored a shorthanded equalizer with 7:24 remaining in the third period to give the Flames renewed life.
"A lot of times, those guys on the PK are unsung heroes, guys who go out there and block shots and get in lanes and really put their bodies on the line to sacrifice for the team," Handy said. "They did an excellent job. There was a lot of pressure but our guys managed it well, and (graduate goalie) Hunter (Virostek) was great again tonight. He made some big saves for us."
The Bulldogs nearly snapped a scoreless tie with just over a minute remaining in the first period when forward Matthew DiCesare gloved a clear attempt by a Liberty defenseman and sent a pass across the slot to linemate Gavin Watt. But Virostek (31 saves) made a point-blank save of Watt's shot from deep in the right crease to preserve the shutout.
Then, 3:30 into the second, Adrian couldn't capitalize on a 2-on-0 break when Sam Spaedt opted to dish a pass across the slot to fellow forward Nash Hatcher, rather than take a shot himself, and Virostek snuffed Hatcher's attempt.
Senior forwards Jason Foltz and Ottenbreit put quality shots on goal, with Ottenbreit nearly sneaking a shorthanded shot past Adrian goalie Noah Decottignies on a breakaway backhander midway through the second period as the Flames closed the Bulldogs' shot advantage.
Liberty's penalty kill shut down Adrian on back-to-back opportunities in the second period, with its defensemen taking a few pucks off the body on shots from the perimeter, and Virostek stopped a quality chance by the Bulldogs soon after the second man advantage expired.
However, with 2:52 to play in the second period, Cam Armstrong gained control of the puck off the forecheck in the left corner and sent a short pass across the left circle to DiCesare, where he launched a shot through a screen in front that got past Virostek into the top-right corner of the cage for a 1-0 Adrian edge.
Ottenbreit nearly netted the equalizer moments later on a shot from the top of the right circle that glanced off the crossbar and out of play before Virostek kick saved and smothered shots by Nathan Mott and Spaedt and glove saved a high shot by Jordan Comila.
Then in the third period, Virostek dodged a bullet when a shot on transition by Blake Wideman from the inside edge of the left circle clanged off the right post and back to him where he was able to cover it.
With 7:32 remaining in regulation, Ottenbreit knotted the game at 1 shorthanded when he took a faceoff in his own circle and pinched the puck off the left boards before skating in and beating Decottignies 1-on-1 on a shot from the left circle.
Finally, with 5:00 to play, senior forward Jacob Kalandyk stole another puck along the left boards and deposited a backhand chip shot over the blocker Decottignies inside the near post for the game-winner.
The Flames and Bulldogs will battle again in Saturday's series finale, set for 1 p.m.
"It's a quick turnaround," Handy said. "We've got to get the bodies rested and ready to go. We know they're going to play better tomorrow and we're going to have to play a lot better, too."
