The Flames collected another league point, but will be disappointed without the 2nd as they lost the handle on a 2 goal lead when Manchester Storm scored a pair of 2nd period goals to even it then delivered the winner just over a minute into overtime while posting a 3-2 win over the Flames on Spectrum ice.
A little over 3 minutes into the evening, Owen Griffiths’ first of the new season had the home team in the lead, and a Peter Crinella powerplay marker just 22 seconds from period time sent Flames to break 2 goals to the good.
An early 2nd period Storm powerplay was converted by Will Merchant to cut their deficit in half. Andreas Heier squared it with his 33rd minute strike ahead of a a scoreless final set that eventually led to overtime where Heier’s 2nd of the contest won it for the visitors.
Eamon McAdam made 23 saves on 26 shots while Evan Weninger turned aside 31 of 33.
“Obviously frustrating to have a 2nd consecutive defeat in extra time,” admitted Paul Dixon.
“Our 2nd period was certainly now how we wanted to play after getting a 2 goal lead, but I thought we should have still been able to win the evening.”
“We simply have to find a way to be better throughout the night with far less inconsistency from one period or one shift to the next.”
“It’s good we got the point, so didn’t go away empty handed, but nobody in our camp is happy with the overall result and now we have to look ahead and try to be better Saturday night.”
