Chris Clegg
NPHL.com Writer
It was a “special” win for the Falher Pirates Thursday night.
Not because the Pirates ran their winning streak to eight games with a 4-3 win over the visiting Manning Comets, but perhaps because every FAL goal was scored on the power play. FAL’s fourth-ranked PP was 18-81 before the game, but will surely rise with a 4-for-6 effort.
Pat Rowan and Dakota Mason scored first period PPGs for FAL. Josh Rutherford scored a pair in-between, one on the PP, as the teams battled to a 2-2 first period tie.
In the second period, Dallas Brochu and Neil Maisonneuve scored PPGs in the first 12 minutes to make it 4-2. Tyler Dillman’s unassisted effort with 2:51 left in the period made it 4-3.
The teams battled through a scoreless third period with each team receiving one PP.
MAN has now lost five straight in FAL.
FAL [11-3-0-1] has now won three of four this season vs MAN, with the loss coming OT, so FAL has earned seven of a possible eight points.
FAL [11-3-0-1] increases its lead in the East Division to nine points over MAN [7-8-0-0] and has all but locked up first in the division, barring a complete collapse. FAL can increase the lead to 11 points with at win at GRIM Friday night.
Comets 3 at Pirates 4
Thu., Jan. 3
First period
1. FAL, Pat Rowan 17 (Kevin Monfette, Dallas Brochu) 7:38 (pp)
2. MAN, Josh Rutherford 14 (Thomas Simpson, Logan Newman) 10:32
3. MAN, Josh Rutherford 15 (Michael Gillen, Brett Nicklason) 12:37 (pp)
4. FAL, FAL, Dakota Mason 5 (Brian Sommers, Jeff Chalifoux) 17:10 (pp)
Penalties: Brian Sommers FAL (hooking) 00:38, Trevor Mazurek FAL (hooking) 4:06, Dalton Ducharme MAN (cross-checking) 5:46, Neil Maisonneuve FAL (interference) 11:18, Dalton Ducharme MAN (kneeing) 14:18, Michael Gillen MAN (tripping) 15:59.
Second period
5. FAL, Dallas Brochu 18 (Kevin Monfette, Trevor Tokarz) 8:26 (pp)
6. FAL, Neil Maisonneuve 2 (Jeff Chalifoux, Brian Sommers) 11:20 (pp)
7. MAN, Tyler Dillman 3 (unassisted) 17:09
Penalties: Braden Gamble MAN (delay of game, served by Logan Newman) 7:19, Tyler Dillman MAN and Dakota Mason FAL (roughing minors) 9:09, Logan Newman MAN (cross-checking) 9:45, Dylan Cunningham FAL (hooking) 19:20.
Third period
No scoring.
Penalties: Brett Nicklason MAN (slashing) 3:51, Dakota Mason FAL (roughing) 8:03.
Shots on goal:
Manning 11 8 11 -30
Falher 13 17 10 -40 Goaltenders: Comets, Braden Gamble; Pirates, Chad Rycroft.
Power Plays: MAN 1-5; FAL 4-6.
Penalties in Minutes: MAN 14; FAL 12.