The Philadelphia Waterdogs picked up a dominant 13-6 win over the Carolina Chaos on Saturday in PLL action to clinch a playoff spot.
The win keeps the Waterdogs in first place in the Eastern Division, two games ahead of the Maryland Whipsnakes. It becomes even more important as the Whipsnakes currently hold the goal-differential tiebreaker.
Philadelphia was led by Michael Sowers with a hat trick and two assists for five points. Jack Hannah added two goals and an assist, while Matt Collison had a goal and a two-point goal. With one goal on Saturday, CJ Kirst tied Marcus Holman’s PLL record of 30 goals in a season.
Sean Byrne was solid in goal for the Waterdogs, stopping 11 shots for a 73.3 per cent save percentage. At the faceoff dot, Alec Stathakis won 15 of 20 draws as the injury to Justin Inacio continued to plague the Chaos.
For the Chaos, Chad Palumbo had two goals and one two-point goal for four points. Teddy Malone finished with two goals and an assist, while Owen Hiltz and Jackson Eicher each had one assist.
It was a bit of an off night for Blaze Riorden, who stopped nine shots for a 42.9 per cent save percentage.
First Quarter
The Waterdogs took early control of the game.
Philadelphia opened the scoring at 3:25 when Collison found the back of the net from long range for a two-point goal.
Just over a minute later, Hannah found Kieran McArdle to put the Waterdogs up 3-0.
Josh Yago added to the lead with 2:52 left in the quarter, and Collison scored again with 1:20 remaining to put Philadelphia ahead 5-0.
The Chaos finally got on the board when Palumbo beat the buzzer with three seconds remaining as Carolina trailed 5-1 after the opening quarter.
Second Quarter
Philadelphia’s defence, along with Byrne’s stellar goaltending, kept the Chaos off the scoresheet in the second quarter.
Kirst opened the scoring at 5:25 to tie the PLL record for most goals in a season.
Sowers then found the back of the net with 3:38 remaining to give the Waterdogs a six-goal cushion.
Hannah rounded out the scoring with 1:47 left as Philadelphia took a commanding 8-1 lead into halftime.
Third Quarter
Carolina started to mount a comeback early in the third quarter.
Malone got the Chaos within six just three minutes into the quarter, and he struck again at 4:24 to make it 8-3.
Palumbo rounded out the three-goal run for Carolina at 8:03, but the celebration was short-lived as Sowers scored just seven seconds later to restore Philadelphia’s five-goal lead.
Hannah rounded out the scoring with 2:05 remaining as the Waterdogs carried a 10-4 lead into the final quarter.
Fourth Quarter
Philadelphia put the game out of reach with three goals in a three-minute span to open the fourth quarter.
Silas Richmond converted a pass from McArdle 6:20 into the final frame, and Kyle Lewis added another at 7:42.
Sowers capped the three-goal run with 2:42 remaining to give the Waterdogs a commanding 13-4 lead.
Palumbo scored a two-point goal with 1:53 left for the Chaos, but it was too little, too late as Philadelphia clinched a playoff spot with a 13-6 victory.
Top Scorers
Philadelphia Waterdogs
- Michael Sowers, 3g 2a
- Jack Hannah, 2g 1a
- Matt Collison, 1g, 1 two-point goal
Carolina Chaos
- Chad Palumbo, 2g, 1 two-point goal
- Teddy Malone, 2g 1a
- Owen Hiltz, 1a
- Jackson Eicher, 1a
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