Enforcers Secure First Win at Home
By Jonathan Kliment
Elmira, NY - The Elmira Enforcers were looking to bounce back from a tough 4-3 overtime loss to the Port Huron Prowlers from the night before. Elmira was able to put up 52 shots on net, but just couldn't push one more past the goal line. The Enforcers have been playing much better hockey as of late, and they hope it will start to transfer into wins as the team looks to make some headway in the standings.
The Enforcers came out with a vengeance in the first period. Early on, Sean Reynolds was able to come out of a scrum in front of the net and finish a nice little garbage goal to put Elmira up, 1-0. Just 14 seconds later, Marko Novosel went stick side on the Port Huron goalie, giving the Enforcers a much needed and very early 2-0 lead. Hot player to watch, Ahmed Mahfouz, continued his impressive play and scored his third goal of this weekend series on a beautiful pass to the slot to add another goal to the Enforcers unbelievable first period. After a questionable penalty call on the Enforcers, a poke check lead to a short-handed breakaway for Elmira's Marko Novosel, who stick-handled and scored the team's fourth goal, and his second of the game. Not to be completely left behind, Yianni Liarakos of the Prowlers was able to beat Elmira goalie Ryan Mulder late in the period for the team's first goal of the game, ending the first 20 minutes with the Enforcers leading, 4-1.
After a slow start to the second period, the action started to pick up for both teams. The Enforcers would continue their strong play with some crisp passing, and luck on their side, leading to a Brandon Vuic shot from about 40 feet out that bounced off the goalie's glove and found its way to the back of the net. Marko Novosel continued to impress, recovering his own mishap with the puck, then ripping a beautiful wrist-shot that beat the Prowlers netminder and completing his hat trick. As the Prowlers are known for, after being down 6-1, they began to get chippy with the Enforcers. An astounding four fights happened within the last two minutes of the period. Once again, the opposing team would find the net late in the period when a pass into the boards from Elmira goalie Ryan Mulder came right back in front of the net, allowing Zachary Zulkanycz to "bury the biscuit" as they say, cutting the Enforcers lead to 6-2.
The third period seemed to coast by for both teams, as they spent much of the time passing and not much time focusing on shooting. The Enforcers were able to finish the game with another very high shot total, leading the Prowlers in that category, 46-12. Elmira was able to control the puck with a purpose all game long, and attacked on both offense and defense. Elmira goalie Ryan Mulder played an outstanding game, despite not facing very many chances from the Prowlers, and was able to earn his first career win in his first FHL game.
The Enforcers will now travel to Danville, IL to take on the Dashers in a weekend bout on Friday, November 30th and Saturday, December 1st.
Photo credit: Charlie Berch