Flames defenseman Grant Morton (left) joins the celebratin of senior forward Matt Bartel's final goal in the third period. (Photos by Ryan Anderson
Flames pounce on Panthers after midnight, feed off energy of crowd to extend winning streak to six
12/2/2023 9:15:00 AM | Men's D1 Hockey
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Liberty got goals from five different players in the 5-3 victory and will look to close out the fall semester by completing the series sweep on Saturday at 7 p.m.
Liberty University's No. 9-ranked ACHA Division I men's hockey team stretched its winning streak to six games and ended No. 13 Pittsburgh's six-game tear by capturing the second of three Midnight Mayhem matchups of the season, 5-3, early Saturday morning at the LaHaye Ice Center.
The Flames (11-6-1) got goals from five different players and outshot the Panthers (13-7-1) by a 39-26 margin on the night. They converted both of their power plays into goals and killed off all four of Pittsburgh's.
"Our power play and penalty kill were excellent tonight," Liberty Head Coach Kirk Handy said. "I thought our guys played hard and played well. The offense was there. We just got a little loose defensively, five-on-five."
Flames senior forward DJ Schwenke skates between two Panthers after midnight.
This was only the teams' second meeting at the ACHA Division I level, after Liberty eliminated the Panthers in the second round of last season's national championships near Boston by a 7-2 count.
Friday's game was the first played by Flames senior forward and spiritual leader Kris Bladen since last January.
"Kris Bladen played very well for us," Handy said. "He's been out for a long time and he jumped right in, so that was good."
"I was really happy," Bladen added. "It was a long process (but) you literally couldn't pick a better game to come back. It was fun. The crowd got into it. I felt great out there. God has blessed me with the opportunity to step on the ice and I don't want to take it for granted. I wasn't sure I was going to have that."
The Flames generated a few quality scoring chances in the opening 10 minutes, including a deflection by sophomore forward Sam Feamster off a shot by junior defenseman Kevin Bite, blocked by Pittsburgh goalie Devin Barresi.
Then, with 4 minutes, 50 seconds to go in the period, Jason Foltz one-timed fellow senior forward Kam Ottenbreit's crossing pass into the slot past Barresi inside the lower-right post for a 1-0 lead.
However, exactly 3:00 later, the Panthers capitalized on a quick counterattack when defenseman Brady Rotolo scored unassisted on a fast break.
Just 2:10 into the second period, Liberty reclaimed the lead on Feamster's power-play putback from the perimeter off senior forward Brett Gammer's turnaround shot from the left crease blocked by Barresi.
With the Panthers on a power play five minutes later, the Flames actually created better offensive opportunities, with senior forward D.J. Schwenke nearly finishing a fast-break chance and Ottenbreit awarded a penalty shot after being tripped up on a one-on-one.
Flames forward Nate Albers battles against a few Pittsburgh players for the puck.
With 10:59 to play in the period, seconds into another power-play chance, the Flames extended their advantage to 3-1 when graduate forward Jackson Vercellono received senior forward and head captain Matt Bartel's pass from the left circle deep in the crease where he deftly pocketed the puck into the back of the net as he was knocked down.
"Our lines are working out and our team is working well together, so we've got a good thing going right now," Vercellono said. "The way to fuel the fire is just by bringing energy. We've got the talent, we've got the group, it's just about bringing ourselves and showing up. We have all the pieces to the puzzle; it's just putting them in the right order."
With the teams battling at even strength, senior forward Truett Olson tucked away the rebound of junior forward Jacob Kalandyk's shot set up by Vercellono with 6:23 to go in the second.
"He won the faceoff, Kaly shot it, I hit the rebound and Truett cleaned it up," Vercellono said. "He's really good at that."
Pittsburgh needed less than two minutes to pull within 4-2 on an unassisted goal by Josh Hrip early in the third period. However, Bartel struck back swiftly, receiving Ottenbreit's pass from along the boards and lifting a wrist shot from the inside edge of the right circle that beat Barresi in the top-left corner of the cage, padding the lead to 5-2 at the 16:37 mark. The Panthers capped the scoring with 4:18 remaining in regulation when Edward Pazo scored off assists from Hrip and leading scorer Oldrich Virag.
"They're honestly a good team," Bladen said. "They play very fundamental."
"I didn't like our third period," Handy added. "I thought we got away from it. Sometimes, that happens. Let's be better and play a better game (on Saturday). Next one's a big one to finish off strong."
The Flames were planning to catch up on their rest on Saturday to be prepared to complete the sweep of the Panthers when the puck drops again from the LIC at 7 p.m.
"We've got to have more goals and less against (on Saturday)," Vercellono said. "We've got to be better about our turnovers. We made some bad turnovers tonight and that's where they capitalized, so if we can just make smarter plays with the puck, we'll be good. We just want to keep climbing the rankings."
First-year Flames Football Head Coach Jamey Chadwell fires up the hockey crowd.
First-year Flames Football Head Coach Jamey Chadwell made an appearance in the crowd during a media timeout in the first period and out on the ice during the first intermission, with the trophy for winning the Conference USA Championship Game over New Mexico State, 49-35, late Friday night at the adjacent Williams Stadium.
"Nothing better … especially for the home crowd after football won the conference championship," Bladen said. "It was cool to see on the bench and first intermission he was down here holding the trophy, giving us fist bumps. He's a really good guy. He stays engaged in the community and it builds it up and helps a lot."
By Ted Allen/Staff Writer; Video by Patrick Strawn/Club Sports Director of Video & Media
