Jan 23/16 vs Winnipeg Avros

On Saturday, January 23, the girls traveled to Winnipeg to square off against the Winnipeg Avros at the Keith Bodley arena. Looking for another big two points in league standings, the Hawks were fired up and ready to go for the start of the game. Pushing the play early and with a strong forecheck, the girls exerted some early pressure against the Avros, but their netminder was equally up to the task. A few early penalties took some of the wind out of the sails and put pressure on the Pembina Valley defense. The D did a great job firing the puck down the ice and Halle did the rest, keeping some tricky shots from finding their way in. The visiting Hawks would get a fortunate break when Megan alertly kept the puck in and fired it cross ice deep into the Winnipeg end. An Avro defender, attempting to knock the puck down, inadvertantly slapped the puck into her own net. Although it was Megan who last touched the puck, and Katie telling the ref as much, Katie got credit for the goal. There was obviously no assist on the play. Shortly thereafter, the Hawks would find themselves on another penalty kill situation, which they would kill effectively. The shots on net were 14-12 Avros after one, but the Hawks led where it mattered most, on the scoreboard, at 1-0. To start the second frame, the Hawks were on a powerplay, their first of the game. The home team managed to kill that one off, and shortly after tallied one of their own when a shot from the point deflected high off the skate of a Hawk defender past a defenseless Halle. The rest of the period would be all Hawks and on a powerplay chance late in the period, some great passing kept the Avros off balance. Chelly passed it over to Jenai who blasted one from the point. Mackenzie Hutchinson tipped it enroute to the net, Ginny just missed one-timing it in and as the puck bounced off the end boards, Katie one-timed it into the back of the net. As the period came to a close, the Hawks were up 2-1 and the shots in the second favoured the visitors 13-5. Not wanting to put the game on cruise control, the Hawks continued their strong play in the third, outplaying and outchancing their counterparts. A little lack of discipline started rearing its head as nine penalties were called in the third, five of which were against the Hawks. Despite killing off the different man advantages, the Hawks continued to keep Winnipeg from scoring, but on a turnover against the boards, to Halle's right an odd man rush ensued and a desperation wraparound attempt managed to squeak over the line, giving the home crowd a reason to celebrate. That late goal, with 3:05 left in the game, gave the Avros some life. The score would remain 2-2 after regulation and a relatively neutral OT would solve nothing, so a shootout would be needed to declare a winner. First up was Sage who lifted a shot over the Avros netminder as she went down, giving the Hawks the advantage. Halle would stop the first shooter for Winnipeg. Next up was Katie who tried the five hole unsuccessfully. The next Avro shooter would score on a good move. Lindsay, despite a good quick move, was not able to lift the shot over the sprawling pads. Halle would stop the next shooter. Chelsea was the next Hawk up, and as she made her move, the puck stuck and she just lost the handle, not getting a shot off. The next Avro shooter, shot low but as she shot she plowed into Halle as the ref indicated a good goal, ending the deadlock and giving Winnipeg the win. A shootout loss would be tough way to go, especially as this would be the first overtime or shoot out loss for the Hawks, but the single point would be a small consolation for a team who worked hard and outshot their opponent 47-29. Unfortunately for the Hawks, even with firing 43 shots on net, two goals would not be enough earn the victory. The girls would have a short turnaround though, as they travel to Warren tomorrow to face off against the Interlake Lightning. Game time is 3:45.