SMJHL Post-Game Show - Game 98

DET 4 COL 2

Synopsis With Descriptions of Goals (Piece 1)

The Detroit Falcons defeated the Colorado Mammoths in Game 98 of the SMJHL Season. The Falcons were led on the evening by Justin Novastar (1-1-2), Alex Berkis (1-1-2) and Edvins Berzins (0-2-2) who each collected two points apiece. The Mammoths were led on the offensive end by Serj Kovalchuk and Maverick O'Dooley, who each found the back of the net in the 4-2 defeat.

The Falcons kicked off the scoring with the only goal from the first period as Rising Hippo beat Colorado netminder Jacob Andrews 12:08 into the game for his 11th tally of the season. The Falcon took a feed from teammate Wiljian Zhang and put it home from the left-hand circle to open the scoring for Detroit.

The second period featured a parade of goals including three for Detroit that left Colorado on the wrong side of a 4-1 scoreline. Justin Novastar was the star for the Falcons in the middle stanza, as he found the back of the net to make it 3-1 Detroit and assisted on teammate Alex Berkis' goal with exactly three minutes to play in the period to make it 4-1 for Colorado.

Novastar's goal was a breakaway tally, as he collected a feed through the Colorado defense from Alex Berkis, went in on Andrews and deked to his backhand for the goal, his fifth of the season. The Detroit forward picked up the secondary helper on Berkis' goal, the second point of the evening for both players. Berkis redirected home a point-shot from Prince Daniel James, the Falcons' leading blueliner.

Khalid Dermont also scored for the Falcons, as he converted on a rebound just 1:36 into the second, while Maverick O'Dooley got the Mammoths on the board with a shot from the point, his third tally of the season. Dermont's goal was set up by Edvins Berzins and Nucky Toohoots, with Berzins getting the primary helper after he original shot was denied by Andrews, but Dermont was on hand to bury the rebound. O'Dooley's goal came as a quick answer less than two minutes later, with defensive partner Ben Dover collecting the primary assist. Dover held in possession at the point after Detroit was unable to clear and fed across the blueline to O'Dooley. The Irish blueliner collected the pass and let go a slap shot which foudn the back of the net for the goal.

The final period was more like the first with just one goal scored, coming for the Mammoths. BColorado created a bit of hope just 3:44 into the period as Serj Kovalchuk tallied for the first time on the season. Richie Pecker and BJ Subban collected the assists on the play after a pair of nice passes set up the Russian forward for the goal. Despite eight additional shots on the period, Colorado couldn't get any closer and they fell 4-2 on the evening. Mammoths' netminder Kimmo Lokinen turned aside all 9 shots he faced in the third after he entered the game in relief of Andrews.

Turning Point (Point 2)

The turning point of the game was the final five minutes of the second period, where the Falcons found the back of the net twice in less than three minutes to increase their lead from one goal to three heading into the final stanza. Despite going down two goals early in the second, the Mammoths got one back on O'Dooley's slap shot to cut the score to 2-1. The Mammoths were heavily outplayed in the second, being outshot 10-2, but were less than five minutes away from heading into the locker room down just a goal. The Falcons proved to have other ideas, however, as Novastar doubled the Detroit lead to two with 4:30 to play in the second, followed by Berkis' goal with less than three minutes to play.

Three Stars (Point 3)

1. Justin Novastar

Novastar was the leader on the evening for the Falcons, as he collected both a goal and an assist. Novastar's tally was the game-winning goal for Detroit, coming with less than five minutes to play in the second period. Novastar was on the ice for all four Detroit goals while being out there for none against, finishing with a +4 rating.

2. Alex Berkis

Like Novastar, Berkis collected a goal and an assist, with his tally proving to be the insurance marker late in the second. Berkis' goal found the back of the net with less than three minutes to play in the middle stanza and provided Detroit with a three-goal lead that they would not relinquish.

3. Edvins Berkis

Like his namesake Alex, Berkis had a multi-point night, with his coming in the form of two assists. Berkis assisted on the first two goals of the evening for Detroit, leading the way in the playmaking department as the only player with two helpers in the game. Berkis finished the game at +3, second best on the Falcons.

Final Thoughts

The Falcons came away with the victory over the young Mammoths, as netminder Jari Ohvo picked up his fourth victory of the season. Jacob Andrews fell to 5-12-5 with the loss, another tough defeat for the veteran backstop behind an inexperienced defense.