Momentum, special teams carry Novi past Walled Lake United
NOVI >> The Novi Wildcats got a hat trick from Gabe Armstrong and picked up a 5-2 win over the Walled Lake United Whitecaps Monday night.
Novi got on the board with just 29 seconds remaining in the first period when Lucas Hollman tipped a shot in, giving the Wildcats a 1-0 lead.
Novi added a pair of goals in the second period, both by Armstrong, to make it 3-0 and seize firm control of the game. Walled Lake United made it 3-1 just before the second intermission on a blistering slap shot from Landon Johnes that rocketed through a crowd and into the back of the net just before the intermission, giving the Whitecaps a bit of momentum heading into the third period.
That didn’t last long, however, and Novi scored on the opening shift when Teddy Donahue jammed in a rebound to seize the momentum back for Novi.
“The word in the room was momentum. We had for a second (period), and we lost it real quick in the third,” Whitecaps head coach Collin Elkins said. “They scored first. They took momentum back right there, and it seemed like we couldn’t seem to catch that momentum back in the third period.”
Despite a series of power plays in the third period, the Whitecaps could never get back on track, managing just six shots on goal in the period, including a total of just two shots on three power plays in the period.
The Novi penalty kill was outstanding all night, blanking the Walled Lake United power play while also picking up a shorthanded goal — Anderson’s hat trick marker — late in the game.
“Special teams has been our bread and butter all year. We’ve been really good on the penalty kill,” Novi head coach Dane Baruzzini said. “Five-on-five defense we’ve been trying to get better at. It’s been a big focus the second half, so it really came together today. We were happy to limit their chances and then score on ours.”
In addition to Anderson’s hat trick, Donahue had a big night with one goal and three assists for the Wildcats, and Trevor Reed added two assists as well.