Robert Kirchner

Dayton, OH - Nothing is a given in the Federal Hockey League.  Coming into tonight’s game between the Dayton Demonz and Danville Dashers, Dayton had lost only once in 16 meetings between both teams.  Tonight the song would remain the same as the Demonz were able to pull out an 8-5 victory over Danville to remain unbeaten on home ice to the Dashers, winning all 8 home games against the Dashers.

The first period Dayton looked flat and out of sync, as the Dashers limited Dayton to only a couple of scoring chances by neutralizing the Demonz to playing on the perimeter, and frustrating the offensive minded Demonz.  The Dashers controlled the first period, and take a 1-0 lead into the first intermission on Matthew Puntureri’s goal.  A good way to sum up the period would be by saying that hard work beats skill, when skill does not work hard and the Dashers out worked Dayton in the first frame.

Things became interesting about 6 minutes into the 2nd period with the play just transitioning from the Danville zone into the Demonz zone, Danville goalie, Josselin St. Pierre and Demonz Ahmed Mahfouz had a disagreement (behind the play), this led to all players (on the ice) retuning to the Danville zone.

After a couple of altercations, both starting goalies Dayton’s Rose, and Danville’s St. Pierre, along with Dasher defenseman Liam Tully tossed from the game for fighting, and receiving game mis-conducts.

In the second period, the tide turned, with Dayton creating numerous scoring chances, while limiting Danville’s scoring chances, to say by a wide margin would be polite, as the Demonz outscored Danville 4-1 in the middle.  Dayton out shot Danville in the second period 24-5, and seemed like a team on a mission.  Trevor Watt, Brian Marks, and Dustin Skinner scored for Dayton to give the Demons a 3-1 lead, Dayton seemed to be off to the races until Dasher Joe Pace’s goal with under 2 minutes in the period cut the Dayton lead 3-2.  Dayton would respond with a critical goal seconds later on Casey Mignone’s tally giving Dayton a two goal cushion and 4-2 lead heading into the final frame.

In the 3rd the see-saw battle continued, with both teams getting good opportunities, with 7 goals scored between both teams.

Scorers for Danville were Alex Norman (power-play), and Matthew Puntueri’s two goals, one on the power-play, and completing the hat-trick on the evening.  Dayton responded with a Mignone’s 2nd of the evening, Jesse Felten’s power-play goal, along with goals from Roger Tagoona and August Aiken.