Trailing 8-5, the Ottawa Black Bears mounted a fourth-quarter comeback to defeat the Saskatchewan Rush 11-8 on Friday night.
Ottawa jumped out to an early 3-0 lead, but Saskatchewan replied with a 7-0 run spanning the second and third quarters.
Jeff Teat then took over the game in the fourth quarter, scoring four of the Black Bears’ six goals in the final frame, including a natural hat trick.
After a rough start, Zach Higgins settled down in goal for Ottawa, making 38 saves in the win, while Frank Scigliano stopped 54 shots for Saskatchewan.
The good news for the Rush was the return of Jake Naso, who made a difference at the faceoff dot, winning 17 of 23 draws.
There were also a pair of milestones in the game. Teat recorded his 500th career point, while Robert Church notched his 900th.
First Quarter
It was a defensive battle to start the game, as neither team gave an inch.
Sam Firth finally got Ottawa on the board at 5:32, and the Black Bears held a narrow 1-0 lead after the first quarter.
Second Quarter
The Black Bears got off to a quick start in the second, as Connor Kearnan made it 2-0 just 50 seconds into the frame.
Rob Hellyer then converted off a feed from Teat at 3:03 as Ottawa rolled to a 3-0 lead.
The Saskatchewan offence didn’t stay quiet for long. Zach Mann got the Rush on the board at 4:15, followed by Robert Church on the power play at 9:48 to make it a one-goal game.
With 4:12 left on the clock, Matt Achione flipped the ball ahead to Mann on a breakaway in transition to tie the game 3-3 at the half.
Third Quarter
Saskatchewan kept the pedal down to open the third quarter. Austin Shanks found Ryan Keenan for a power-play marker just 27 seconds in.
Shanks then set up Church 27 seconds later to give the Rush a 5-3 lead.
Mike Messenger followed with a spin move in transition at 1:31, and two minutes later Levi Anderson bullied his way to the net to cap a 7-0 run for Saskatchewan.
Ottawa responded with a pair of goals. Hellyer found the back of the net at 6:59, followed by Larson Sundown at 9:38.
Mann rounded out the third-quarter scoring with 2:45 left, as the Rush led 8-5 heading into the fourth.
Fourth Quarter
Teat completely took over in the final frame.
He scored on the power play at 1:46 and followed it up with another at 4:13.
Teat completed the natural hat trick at 5:01 to tie the game 8-8.
Sundown scored the eventual game-winner with 7:53 remaining, but the Black Bears weren’t done.
Teat added his fourth goal of the quarter with 2:00 left, and Hellyer sealed the win with an empty-net goal at 1:33.
Tempers flared late in the game. Messenger received roughing and unsportsmanlike conduct penalties, along with a 10-minute misconduct. Just before the final buzzer, Jake Boudreau, Holden Garlent and Andrew Borgatti were each assessed unsportsmanlike conduct penalties and 10-minute misconducts.
Regardless, Ottawa mounted a fourth-quarter comeback to come away with the 11-8 victory, as both teams moved to 1-1.
Top Scorers
Ottawa Black Bears
- Jeff Teat — 4g, 5a
- Rob Hellyer — 3g, 5a
- Reilly O’Connor — 5a
Saskatchewan Rush
- Zach Mann — 3g, 1a
- Robert Church — 2g, 1a
- Ryan Keenan — 1g, 2a
- Austin Shanks — 3a
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