by Jeff Barrett
Watertown, NY - For the second night in a row, the Watertown Wolves and Elmira Mammoth would square off at the Watertown Municipal Arena. Unlike the night before, the Mammoth would be the first to strike just 1:40 into the first period as Isaiah Crawford was able to skate right to the front of the goal and slide the puck under Travis Smith, which would quiet the Watertown faithful.
But it wouldn't take long to get the home crowd back onto their feet. Just 54 seconds later, Santino Foti was able to stuff one between the pipe and Trevor Micucci's right skate, evening the score at one each. Isaiah Crawford would dent the back of the net for a second time in the period at the 12:21 mark, assisted by Sam Holeczy and Parker Moskal to take a 2-1 lead for Elmira.
The Mammoth were able to increase their lead 3-2 when Parker Moskal one timed a Matt Bazarin pass to the back of the net at the 17:00 minute mark. Also credited with an assist was Noah Wild. 59 seconds later, the Wolves would cut into the Mammoth lead when Mike Mann slipped the puck past Micucci off a pass from Santino Foti to pull to within one. The period would end with Elmira holding onto the 3-2 lead with a big part of the credit going to the Mammoth's keeper Trevor Micucci, who faced who faced 18 shots in the first 20 minutes.
Just 2:17 into the second period, the Wolves were able to even the score once again when Watertown goal keeper Travis Smith was able to clear the puck all the way to the offensive zone, where Mike Mann took the long outlet pass and quickly sent it to the left side to a streaking Santino Foti who beat Micucci on the left side.
The Wolves would take their first lead of the game at the 13.08 mark, as again, goal keeper Travis Smith would get his second assist of the period, sending a long pass to Matt Brown, who in turn, fed the puck to Rocco DiCostanzo who was able to get the puck off the ice and over a sprawling Trevor Micucci.
The lead would be short lived as just 3 minutes and 6 seconds later, Yanni Liarakos sent a nasty wrist shot from the top of the left faceoff circle and beat Smith to the top right corner, knotting the game at 4 a piece.
At 18.08 of the period, Ryan Sarris nets his first goal for the Wolves on a power play , assisted by Sam Hrabcak and Mathias Tellstrom, to put the Wolves back up by a goal. The period ended with the Wolves leading 5-4, while out shooting the Mammoth 23-10.
The third period would be the first time of the weekend set where the Mammoth out shot Watertown 13-12, including a Matt Bazarin goal at 15.13 of the frame. Thomas Maguire was able to get the puck deep into the zone on the right hand side where he slid it to Bazarin who was standing on the doorstep, and tapped it home through the five hole on Smith, knotting the game at 5 goals each. Regulation time would end with the game tied 5-5.
The overtime period only lasted a minute and forty one seconds as Matt Brown fed the puck to Trevor Lord who sent a shot from just inside the left point that sailed through the five hole of Trevor Micucci, giving Lord his first career Wolves goal, and the game winner.
The Wolves out shot Elmira 3-0 in the overtime, and 56-30 for the game.
The Wolves will travel to Harrington Delaware to face the Thunder next Friday and Saturday nights, while the Mammoth will return home to host the Binghamton Black Bears for a weekend set.