2011-01-17, Eden Prairie, MN: The D2 Northern Horde came from behind twice to tie the score, ultimately prevailing in overtime at a nearly-empty Eden Prairie ice rink. The game was tightly contested when the Knights put one past Horde goalie Pete Morrow one minute into a power play. The Knights struck again less than 30 seconds later by taking advantage of some defensive confusion in the Horde end putting the Horde down 2-0 little more than halfway into the first period. The Horde started their climb back into it when Shawn Espeseth knocked the puck to Suneel Arora at the point. Arora’s shot was stopped but Dan Kline knocked the puck past the Knights’ goalie to start the scoring. “I’m so used to having my back to my own goalie that I almost fired the puck back at Pete,” commented Dan Kline. Just over two minutes into the second period, the Horde tied it at two when Chris Haack centered a pass to Richard “Big Stick” Dargis who knocked a backhand into the net. Later in the period, the Knights took the lead again when Dmitry Tovb got behind the Horde defense on a breakaway. The defense did a nice job getting back, forcing a sharp-angle backhand shot which just squeaked underneath Morrow’s waiting glove. After several extended stretches of pressure in the Knights defensive zone, Joe Lee centered a pass to Mark Paska. Paska’s initial shot was saved but Ryan Dolan was in the perfect spot to bang home the rebound. After a friendly chat in front of the Knights’ goalie (a request for further comment from Kline was rebuffed), the teams battled to a regulation tie. “I skated all the way in from the point because I was hoping to knock some heads together. It figures Kline would wuss out,” said Jeff Cook. With less ice time remaining than the 5-minute overtime clock would allow, Paska decided he’d had enough and intentionally lost the opening faceoff. He then methodically picked the puck off the Knights’ defenseman’s stick, walked in alone on the goalie and knocked home the game winner just 14 seconds into overtime.
Next up for the D2 Northern Horde is a rematch with the Fighting Loons.
