Four goal 2nd period propels rockers to 6-3 win over delaware

The Motor City Rockers traveled for the first time to Delaware this season with hopes to build off its win on Wednesday night against Watertown.

Despite the quick turnaround, the Rockers (8-3-3) were able to use an explosive second period to earn a 6-3 win over the Thunder.

6:24 into the middle frame, Rockers defensemen Ian White earned his second goal of the season when Conway fed the puck to him in the slot. As McHale was bothered by traffic in the crease, White fired the puck high to tie the score at 2-2. 

Two minutes later on the power play, Conway received the puck from the nearside boards and fed it back to White at the point. White fired the puck on net for a rebound chance, and Scott Coash put in his eight goal of the season and 3-2 lead. As the offense was finding its groove, the scoring continued just past the midway point of the second period when Everett Thompson moved the puck to freshly minted Danny Vanderwiel. Vanderwiel, who was signed to the team on Tuesday, Nov 22nd, walked the puck into the slot and fired a wrister for his first of the season for a 4-2 lead. 

Fresh off a power play draw from the far-side circle, Derek Makimaa back-handed the puck to Ross Barlett at the point. Bartlett fed the puck to Josh Colten who drifted to the top of the nearside circle and fired the puck on a screened net that went in for a 5-2 lead. 

It was Colten’s third goal of the season, all of which have come on the power play. 

Despite leaving Michigan just after midnight, the Rockers were able to overcome its bus legs, and get on the board first, in the first period. 

Dante Suffredini held the puck at the point, and fed it to the slot on the stick of Brad Reitter. Reitter turned and found Declan Conway in the near side circle on a one-touch pass. Conway, then, rifled the puck over the shoulder of Michael McHale for a 1-0 lead 4:34 into the first period.

The goal was Conway’s sixth of the season, second on the power play, and now carries a three game point streak. 

Five minutes later, Delaware (1-10-1) pulled the game back to even cashing in on the man-advantage, as well. 

Thunder Forward Pier-Luc Bellard received a cycling puck from Houston Wilson on the farside of the point. Bellard fed a one-timer to Austin Weber, who was drifting to the nearside circle. Weber fired the puck through the five-hole of Trevor Babin for a 1-1 tie with 10:34 left in the first period. 

With 2:10 left in the opening period, Delaware took a 2-1 lead, again, on the man-advantage. 

Former Rocker now Thunder Forward Chris Corgan passed the puck to Alex Soucy at the point. Soucy fired the puck into a crowded net, where Babin made the initial save. During the scrum, however, Wilson was able to push the puck past the goal line for a 2-1 lead before the period was over. 

After the explosive second period, Delaware was able to get back on the board in the third on the power play. 

Soucy cut into the lead, 5-3, as he dove in front of the net and pushed in the puck before Babin could stop it. The Rockers, however, were able to get one back on an empty net goal from Roman Gaudet. 

The goal was Gaudet's fifth of the season and now has a seven game point streak. 

Motor City and Delaware will square off once again on Saturday night at 7:00pm at Delaware Fairgrounds Ice Center before coming back home to face Delaware in a two game series at home the following weekend. 

Written by Ben Szilagy