Huntsville, Al.: Despite a pair of one-goal leads in the game for Evansville, the Havoc stormed past the Thunderbolts with four unanswered goals in the third period to defeat the Thunderbolts 5-3 and take the 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series going back to Evansville. The Thunderbolts home playoff game against the Huntsville Havoc at Swonder Ice Arena will be on Saturday, April 16th at 7:00pm CST. Evansville will play at Huntsville for a third game if necessary on Sunday, April 17th at 7:00pm CT. For tickets, call (812)422-BOLT (2658), buy online at EvansvilleThunderbolts.com, or buy tickets in person at the Ford Center Box Office.
Cameron Cook opened the scoring on a 2-on-1 rush only 1:38 into the game to give the Thunderbolts a 1-0 lead, which was held through the first period and most of the second period, before Nolan Kaiser tied the game 1-1 with a power play goal at 17:54. Connor Chatham scored on a breakaway only 1:14 into the third period to give Evansville a 2-1 lead, however the Havoc scored a pair of goals only 35 seconds apart from Jacob Barber and Nate Pionk to catapult the Havoc in front 3-2. Bauer Neudecker added a power play goal and Barber an empty net goal to make it 5-2 Huntsville. Cook scored his second goal of the game with 37 seconds remaining, however that would conclude the scoring as the Havoc won by a 5-3 score.
Cook scored two goals, Chatham scored one goal, and Chris Janzen made 42 saves on 46 shots in his first career playoff start.
