Zak Payne 2 assists
(photos by Jim Lindquist)
Northfield's Andrew Scofield scored the tying goal with just 36 seconds to play in regulation and then netted the game-winner three minutes into overtime to give the Raiders a 5-4 win over the Tigers Thursday night, Feb. 3, in Northfield.
The loss was the third straight for the Tigers and the second of that number to be decided by one goal.
"We played well enough to win," Tiger coach Keith Revels said. "We were just not able to get the bounce or connect on the passes when we needed to. We had a lot of near misses."
The visitors started the night on a positive note, taking an early 2-0 lead on goals from Jake Sorenson and Quinn Malcolm and holding on to a 2-1 lead after one period.
Scofield's power play score provided the only scoring of the second period and set up an up-and-down the ice third period that featured 24 shots on net, four goals, three penalties, a shorthanded goal by the Raiders and Scofield's last minute score after Northfield pulled its goalie.
The Raiders scored first in the final period but goals by Tyler Grubb and Andrew Peterson gave the locals a lead they would carry into the final minute of regulation.
"After they pulled their goalie, there was a mad scramble in front and somehow the puck found the net," Revels said.
The game-winner came on a break from the Northfield blue line that ended with Scofield slapping the puck by Tiger goalie Victor Simones.
Zak Payne, Dan Handberg, Grubb, Soresnon and Peterson each had a two-point night in the losing effort for the Tigers. Goalie Simones finished with 35 saves.
The Tigers will be looking to snap their three-game slide Tuesday, Feb. 8, when they entertain Chaska at Schmitz-Maki Arena.
