The Pittsburgh Vengeance traveled to Toledo for a two game set last weekend desperate to get back on the winning track. They got off to a rough start Friday night, as Toledo scored a late goal in the first period to take the 1-0 lead. Pittsburgh rallied behind a Brian Dee goal early in the middle period assisted by James Unger and Gavin Cummings. Toledo struck back less than two minutes later to take a 2-1 lead to the locker room after the second frame. Toledo outshot Pittsburgh 16-5 and added three third period goals for a 5-1 final. Jacob Stack stopped 28 of 32 in net for Pittsburgh and Adam Provaznik blocked 8 of 9 in relief.

 

"Goaltending was great again, but everything else left something to be desired," said Coach Dorsey.

 

The Vengeance faced a must win game rematch against the Cherokee on Saturday night to remain in the playoff hunt. Pittsburgh got off to the start they wanted as James Unger scored just 8 seconds after the opening faceoff with a little bit of puck luck to put the boys in black up 1-0. Gavin Cummings notched a late goal assisted by Devin Sroka to send the Vengeance to the locker room up 2-0 after one period of play. Perry Shiring opened the second period scoring with a power play goal 4:03 into the frame. Sroka and Nick Hawkins tallied helpers on the goal to put Pittsburgh up 3-0. Toledo rallied back, outshooting Pittsburgh 23-9 in the middle frame, and managed to cut the lead to 3-2 going into the third period. Nick Lyon scored his 12th goal of the season assisted by Brian Dee and Vincent Casale with under a minute to go to secure Pittsburgh a 4-2 victory. Jacob Stack was brilliant in the net, stopping 41 of 43 shots for his 6th victory of the season.

 

"Our goalie was great again, but as a team we need to play better in front of him while protecting the lead," said Coach Dorsey.

 

 

Pittsburgh travelled to Jamestown, NY the following weekend to take on the Southern Tier Xpress in a big home-and-home series for each team. Pittsburgh took the lead late in the first period as Ryan Loebig tallied his first career goal, assisted by Auston "Flow" Palumbo and Vincent Casale. Southern Tier bounced right back with a late goal to tie it up 1-1 after the opening period. The Vengeance scored 45 seconds into the second on a goal from Nick Lyon with assists going to Brian Dee and Brian Grant take the 2-1 lead. Pittsburgh poured it on from there, outshooting Southern Tier 16-9 in the middle frame. The Vengeance went up 3-1 on a goal from Cam Smith assisted by Cedric Calhoun and Casale, then added a late goal from Perry Shiring to make it 4-1 with assists going to Gavin Cummings and Grant. The score remained 4-1 after a scoreless third period as Adam Provaznik would blocked 25 out 26 shots for the Czech native's first career victory in the net.

 

"We were sloppy at times, but we got a road victory and that's all that matters right now," said an unusually bubbly Coach Dorsey.

 

 

Both teams travelled to Pittsburgh as the Vengeance hosted the Xpress in a Sunday matinee rematch. James Unger scored to put Pittsburgh up 1-0 with assists going to Brian Dee and Nick Lyon. Dee would score a power play goal to put the Vengeance up 2-0 after one period of play with an assist going to Unger. Lyon scored early in the second period of play to put the Vengeance up 3-0 with both Dee and Unger adding assists. The score remained 3-0 after two periods of play.

 

"We played a great first period and got loose in the second," said Coach Dorsey.

 

Nick Lyon scored on a beautiful individual effort off the opening faceoff of the third to put Pittsburgh up 4-0. Dom Glavach added a power play goal assisted by James Stiles to make it 5-0 Pittsburgh. Brian Grant added his first goal in a Vengeance uniform to make it 6-0 with an assist going to Gavin Cummings, nailing down the victory for the Vengeance. Daniel "Dundee" Lee posted a shutout in his first career NA3HL start, stopping all 25 Southern Tier shots.

 

"Power play was much better today and we played a better team game," said Coach Dorsey. "Cummings was the best player on the ice today and we need that same player going forward if we are going to advance."

 

 

Pittsburgh travels to Western Michigan for two road games with huge playoff implications next weekend. The Vengeance and Wolves are in 3rd and 4th place in the tight NA3HL East division standings.