SEWELL, N.J. – The Elmira Aviators (3-5-0-0) were overrun by the Philadelphia Rebels (4-3-0-1) 5-3 at the Hollydell Ice Arena Friday night.
Elmira returned from the NAHL Showcase riding the high of taking two out of three in front of 100s of college and pro scouts. The Aviators hoped to return to division play by sweeping Philadelphia and returning to Elmira for the home opener above .500.
However, the Rebels stamped that hope out with a pair of short-handed goals in the third period to secure a home victory.
The Aviator power play had been chomping at the bit to get its chance in a tie game. The unit entered Friday’s contest as the No. 1-ranked group in the East Division, clicking at a rate over 25%.
The power play would get its chance, but what transpired in the third was disastrous. An aggressive Philadelphia pk gave Elmira trouble in neutral ice.
Brayton Frick drove hard to the cage to give the Rebels the lead. Then, Charlie Spencer gave Philadelphia insurance while down a man, with the assist coming from Frick.
The Aviators were 0/4 on the power play, with all four opportunities coming in the third period.
Despite the crushing end to Friday night’s game, the Aviators had some positive individual play in the first two periods.
Elmira forward Evan Dantas, who was acquired from Danbury earlier this week, tallied two points in the first period, assisting Nico Pohjola for Elmira’s first tally and then giving the Aviators the lead with 11 seconds to go in the opening period with a score of his own.
In the middle frame, an Aviator forward scored his first career NAHL goal with a beauty.
Cody Powels, a 2008-born forward playing in just his third game for the Aviators, was set up by Matthew Maglio on an Elmira rush. Powels didn’t just bury his chance. He undressed the netminder with a filthy forehand-backhand move to tie the game up at three.
The Aviators will try to secure a series split with the Rebels when they face off Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. back inside the Hollydell Ice Arena.
The game can be streamed on NATV or listened to on WINGZ93.
Mac Young is the play-by-play voice of the Elmira Aviators. To contact him, email [email protected].