Victor Simones 41 saves
(photo by Jim Lindquist)
Farmington surrendered two shorthanded goals Tuesday night and fell to Hastings, 3-1, at Schmitz-Maki Arena.
The Tigers (3-3-1) have now lost back-to-back games for the first time this season.
The start of the game was delayed due to shattered glass behind Farmington’s night during warm ups. The glass was replaced by plywood and had no major effect on the game.
After a scoreless first period of the team’s feeling each other out, the second began with physical play both ways. Head coach Keith Revels said that is the kind of game his team needs to play if they want to have success.
“We need to be physical any time there is an opportunity to be,” he said. “We aren’t going to have the style points. We just need to outwork teams.”
The Raiders (3-5-0) received their first shorthanded marker from Mark Huneke at 2:46 of the second period to open the scoring. The score remained that way entering the third period.
The third began with Hastings clamping down on the Farmington breakout and did not let them escape the zone with possession of the puck. That allowed them to hold a 20-6 advantage in shots in the final period.
“They made us one dimensional in the breakout,” Revels said. “We did a better job of covering the point tonight, but the turnovers the last few games are [hurting] us.”
Hastings added to their lead at 7:50 of the third on a shorthanded goal from Zach Mellick. John Donnelly of the Tigers answered at 9:46, unassisted, to cut the deficit in half. The Raiders would add a third goal with under a minute to play from Nate Flynn to seal the win.
Farmington received a solid performance in net from Victor Simones. The senior goaltender stopped 41 of 44 shots.
“He was certainly busy,” Revels said of Simones. “I wouldn’t call him conventional. He just does what he needs to do to keep us in the game.”
The Tigers will travel to Park of Cottage Grove to face the Wolfpack Thursday night at Cottage Grove Ice Arena. Puck drops at 7:30 p.m.
