Falcons fall to Keystone Oaks, 6-0
Connellsville's Cody Grimm (71) battles for control of the puck against Keystone Oaks Matt Brestensky (97) during Monday evenings game at the Ice Mine.
Connellsville's Devin Adenhart (12) looks for an open player against Keystone Oaks during Monday evenings game at the Ice Mine.
Keystone Oaks' Noah Held takes a shot against Connellsville's goalie, Thomas Clark (35) during Monday evenings game at the Ice Mine.
Connellsville's Cody Grimm (71), right, and Gage Gainey (22), Left, heads down the ice against Keystone Oaks during Monday evenings game at the Ice Mine.
WEST LEISENRING – Connellsville goalie Thomas Clark reached a milestone Monday night with 8:30 remaining in the game when he made his 58th save against Keystone Oaks was his 1,000th of the season.
But, unfortunately for the Falcons, four shots had found their way past Clark to that point, and two more reached the twine in the final eight minutes for a 6-0 PIHL Open Division victory at the Ice Mine.
Keystone Oaks had 72 shots in the game, while Connellsville mustered 14 against Jonathan Mead.
The game was scoreless after one period with both teams fending off man-advantage situations. Connellsville had two power play opportunities, but Keystone Oaks had the better of the offensive play.
“We couldn’t capitalize on chances we had in front of the net,” said Connellsville coach Josh Snyder. “We’ve been struggling on the power play.”
Keystone Oaks’ Matt Brestensky finally put a shot past Clark at 12:39 of the second period. The Golden Eagles maintained pressure in the offensive end, when Brestensky took possession of the puck in the right circle, cut across the slot and wristed a shot past Clark.
Keystone Oaks (4-12-0) doubled its lead eight minutes later when Nick Jaras blasted a shot above Clark’s glove hand for a power play goal at 4:43.
The Falcons played most of the second half of the game with players in the penalty box, something Snyder was not pleased with. Connellsville was whistled for six minor penalties and a pair of 10-minute misconducts.
“We took a lot of bad penalties and that hurt us,” said Snyder.
Brestensky scored the first two goals of the third period to notch a hat trick. Jack Malka scored an unassisted power play goal at 3:27 when he tucked a shot under the crossbar from the edge of the right circle, out of the reach of Clark’s glove hand.
The final goal of the game was the result of a weird bounce off the Ice Mine glass. Jaras’ shot from the right point angled in front of Clark, bounced off the glass back in the direction it came from and Andrius Petrauskas pounced on the puck sitting in the crease for the sixth goal of the game.
Despite falling to 0-17-0, Snyder sees a turnaround in the Falcons.
“We’re seeing progress every week. The last time we played them I think the score was double digits,” said Snyder. “We’re sporadic, but the guys are keeping their heads up no matter what the score is.
“Their heads are in the game. We gotta get them to execute. Since the beginning of the season to now, we turned 180 degrees.”
The Falcons have home games with Ringgold and Greensburg Salem, and then close on the road at Indiana on Feb. 20.