Planets score 14 goals against Deer Lakes
WARRENDALE — Having lost an 8-5 decision to Kittanning Feb. 3 for its only defeat of the season, Mars coach Steve Meyers was hoping his team would regain its groove.
In its past two games, it has done just that.
The Planets routed South Park, 14-0, last Tuesday, then followed up with another 14-0 decision against Deer Lakes Tuesday at BladeRunners.
Robbie Sigurdsson tallied four goals and two assists, and Elliot Tisdale had three goals and four assists to pave the way for the Planets (19-1).
“These two games have been good for us,” Mars coach Steve Meyers said. “These two games got the goals flowing again.”
It took Mars just 59 seconds to take the lead on a unassisted goal by Tisdale.
Before the Lancers (1-17) knew it, they found themselves in a 7-0 hole with 1:44 left in the first period, which started the mercy rule clock.
Tisdale and Max Master added two more goals while Sigurdsson and Tyler Thomas also found the back of the net to stake the Planets to the huge first-period lead.
“After that kind of game (against Kittanning), it's easy to get down and think we lost the biggest game of the year,” Meyers said. “As bad as we played, we were down by one goal with four minutes to go.
“The guys are hungry. They're getting back to basics,” he added.
All four of Mars' goals in the second period came on the power play.
Sigurdsson tallied two goals, and Rusty Miller and Colt Bernburg had one apiece, the latter with 3:02 left in the period for an 11-0 lead.
Meanwhile, the Planets defense limited the Lancers to eight shots, and goalie Tyler Stepke made each stop.
Stepke was impressive with the puck and earned three assists on the night.
“I saw one shot in the first period, one in the second period and a few in the third period,” said Stepke. “I'd only have to stop the puck 10 minutes at a time. ... I played the puck just to stay in the game.”
Robert Foley, Sigurdsson and Kevin Leslie accounted for the Planets' third-period goals.
Leslie had three assists while Hunter Sacchini and Craig Mazzotta, who came up from the junior varsity team, had two each.
Notes: Deer Lakes goalie Eric Newbrough finished with 26 saves. ... Mars converted 7 of 9 power-play chances and had one short-handed goal by Tisdale.
