“It was a little surprising, keeping an offense like that to three shots,” said Daniels. “I thought we came out with a lot of energy, and we deserve a little credit. We came out hard.”
Early in the second period, Albany increased their lead to 2-0 on a power play goal by Pat Dwyer at 3:39, only seconds after a failed short-handed breakaway by former Rat, Keith Aucoin.
Hershey finally mastered Manzato at 8:26 when Matthieu Perreault, slid the puck into the net after patiently waiting for Albany captain, Tim Conboy, to slide by.
The Bears tied the game at two during a four minute power play, when a double minor was assessed to Harrison Reed for high-sticking Hershey’s Patrick Wellar. It took Hershey nearly three minutes to get their first shot on goal during the advantage, but it proved to be the only one they needed when Alexandre Giroux’s one-time rocket whizzed by Manzato.
Sensing that Albany was on the ropes, the Bears continued to pursue their prey, grabbing a one goal lead at 19:31 on a goal by Kyle Wilson. Wilson, starting the play by besting Albany center, Nick Dodge, on the face-off, proceeded to the front of the net and converted a Quintin Laing pass from close range. Dodge, who would later atone for his defensive deficiencies, took responsibility for his part in allowing the goal.
“It’s a simple defensive play that I missed my assignment on and it cost us a goal,” said Dodge, who also faced Wilson in the ECAC in their college hockey days.
Coach Daniels, in his assessment of the second period, faulted no particular player for his team’s defensive meltdown.
“We made three mental mistakes and beat ourselves in the second period. They (the Bears) have too much skill, too much firepower. If you give them a chance like that, they’re going to bury them,” he said.
Inspired by their late second period rally, Hershey came out flying in the third period, outshooting Albany 5-0 in the first four and a half minutes and grabbing a two goal lead on their sixth shot, Giroux’s wraparound goal at 6:05.
The good vibrations from Giroux’s goal lasted only 11 seconds when Michael Ryan beat Hershey goaltender, Daren Machesney, on a partial breakaway at 6:16 to put his team within a goal of tying the game. Ryan, with an unobstructed path to the net, thanks to Sami Lepisto’s misstep at the blue line, backhanded the puck into the back of the net, starting the River Rats’ comeback.
“I thought I had a step on him anyway,“ Ryan said. “I was coming in with some good speed and he seemed to turn the other way and caught a little rut.”
Setting the stage for the controversial game-winning goal, Albany’s Jerome Samson tied the game at 13:02.
With Hershey’s Graham Mink in the penalty box, Dodge redeemed himself for his earlier mistake by scoring the game winner at 16:42. Dodge, stationed between the circles, redirected an above-the-waist shot from teammate, Brett Carson, drawing a strong protest from the Bears and stunning the home crowd. After conferring, the on-ice officials deemed the goal legal, and the Rats officially took their second and final lead of the game.
“I thought it was a good goal; obviously it was a close play. I can’t say definitively if it was a goal or wasn’t a goal, but I thought it was a goal,” said Dodge. “The refs got together and said it was a goal, so it was a goal.”
Ryan’s empty net goal at 19:00, assisted by Dodge, sealed the deal for the Rats, who improved so 15-8-3-2 on the season. After the game, Dodge was very thankful for his teammates’ help in climbing out of the hole he dug for himself earlier in the game.
“I definitely owe the guys. Fortunately, we were able to fight back and get the win and I don’t look like such a donkey.”