Tigers rally to roar past Tornado, 8-3
VALENCIA — North Allegheny coach James Black saw his hockey team come out a little flat against Butler on Thursday.
Once the players settled down, they started to roll.
The Tigers trailed 2-0 before erupting for eight goals en route to an 8-3 victory over the Tornado in a PIHLClass AAA game at the Ice Connection.
"I think it was more of just settling down," said Black. "We were just chasing the puck around. We're not going to pack it in down 1-0 or 2-0.
"Maybe from a coaching standpoint, you do it long enough you'll be down two goals a lot. We pressed a little, but it was a matter of time before the game settled and we got some opportunities,"Black added.
Things started off well for Butler as R.C. Double took the puck behind the net then flicked it from the side into the front corner of the net for a 1-0 Tornado lead 2:06 into the game.
When Zach Pennington picked up a stray puck and scored on a breakaway past Tigers goalie Greg Borza, Butler (2-4) enjoyed a 2-0 lead with 5:32 left in the first period.
Then the Tigers (3-2) started to take control.
Junior forward Dylan Rohar scored on a deflection off a save by Butler goalie Justin O'Donnell 1:30 later and then used some deft puck handling 27 seconds into the second period to tie the game.
Andrew Black gave the Tigers the lead for good on a power-play goal, a slapshot that found its way through a crowd in front of the net, and Rohar recorded a hat trick when he scored with 3:04 left in the second period for a 4-2 Tigers advantage.
"They put us back on our heels a little bit," said Butler assistant coach Damon Hoak. "We were expecting a good team, which North Allegheny is. Sometimes we get a little down on ourselves when we're down a couple of goals."
Any chance of a Tornado comeback was dashed when Brady Waldschmidt and Donny Lewis each scored a goal in a 53-second span early in the third period.
Josh Herbert and Tyler Hagy added goals, the latter with 3:04 left to give North Allegheny a six-goal cushion.
Double scored his second goal of the game for the Tornado with 1:27 remaining off an assist from Beau Bechtel to close out the scoring.
"We tell these guys we're tired of losing with a winning team," said Hoak. "There's no discipline. They play hard in practice but sometimes they don't get the breaks and miss some opportunities."
Notes: Butler had a two-man advantage for a 1:27 span in the first period and a three-minute power play in the second period but came away empty. Butler was 0-for-4 on power plays; North Allegheny 1-for-1. ... The Tigers outshot Butler 40-19. ... Butler plays Monday at Meadville.
