The Evansville Thunderbolts fell to the Pensacola Ice Flyers in overtime, 3-2, after a hard fought two-game series that saw Evansville pick up valuable points in a very contentious playoff race.  After dropping the first two meetings in Pensacola, the Thunderbolts exacted some revenge on the Ice Flyers in their 5-2 win on Friday night.  Saturday’s meeting was the final matchup between the two teams this season.

            Evansville got off to a hot start as they peppered Pensacola netminder John McLean with 15 shots in the first culminating in a goal from Mark Petaccio with a little under five minutes left in the period. The goal was assisted by Josh Elmes and Stephon Thorne and was Petaccio’s 4th goal and 8th point in nine games for Evansville.  Tyler Gjurich would score a little over five minutes into the second period to give the Thunderbolts a 2-0 lead.  The two-goal lead wouldn’t last the period as Pensacola’s Jesse Stoughton scored a power-play goal late in the second to make it 2-1.  Stoughton would again score on the power-play late in the third period to tie up the game 2-2 and force overtime.  Louis Belisle would finish the comeback for the Ice Flyers at the 1:44 mark of the overtime period.

            Things got heated in the third period after Pensacola’s Brandon Blair was called for charging after a high hit on Petaccio that left the Evansville forward momentarily dazed. Stephon Thorne challenged Blair to drop the gloves promptly after, with both players receiving five-minute majors for fighting.  Al Graves would also receive a 10-minute major for Inciting an Opponent.

            Goaltending was strong for both teams with Tanner Milliron stopping 39 of the 42 shots he saw and Pensacola’s McLean turning away 32 of 34.  Pensacola was 3-5 on the power-play while Evansville went 0-5.  Evansville now sits six points out of the final playoff spot with nine games left to play.  The Thunderbolts will take on the Huntsville Havoc on Friday, Mar. 17 at the Ford Center.  Puck drops at 7:15 p.m.

Thunderbolt Aces

• Tyler Gjurich scored his 3rd goal in two games and had 7 shots on goal.
• Tanner Milliron stopped 39 of 42 shots.
• Josh Elmes had an assist and was plus-1 for the game with 3 shots on goal.