(MACON, Ga.) – The Mayhem took a tough 2-0 setback in their only home game in the month of October tonight against the Bulls.
The first period started off a bit slowly with neither team generating too many grade a scoring opportunities. The only penalty infraction of the period occurred at the 8:14 mark in which Brad Fortin was sent to the box for boarding for the Bulls. Macon would muster just two shots on their power play, and twelve in total in the first period. Through twenty minutes of hockey, the teams headed off scoreless 0-0 with shots favoring Macon 12-6.
In the middle stanza things started to pick up a bit as Birmingham saw three power play chances, and the Mayhem got two of their own. Half the period was spent on special teams. It was Chris Carroll (tripping), Michael Herrera (Cross-Checking), and Matt Carlson (roughing) who each took a turn to the bad boy box for the home side.
Just after the Bulls third power play expired late in the period, Graham Fortin won a 50/50 puck in the neutral zone and found Brad Fortin just outside the zone on the right-wing side, he back handed it up to Aiden Wagner who skated down the wall. He made a quick cut to the middle of the ice and forced a shot that Boyko swatted down with his glove, however he was there to clean up the change and forced it in short side to give Birmingham a 1-0 lead :45 before the intermission.
Overall, the Bulls dominated offensively in the second period, outshooting the Mayhem 14-6 and took a 1-0 advantage.
Things got chippy in the final period of play as both sides took notice of how tightly contested this one was. The Bulls ended up taking three more minor penalties in the final period, and the Mayhem saw two more offenders on their side. It was the Brandon Stojcevski tripping minor at 7:09 that came back to haunt Macon.
Birmingham showed good puck movement and started a rush in their defensive zone. Collin Tracy came right through neutral ice and threw a swing pass to Matt Wiesner who broke into the zone. Logan Calder recieved a short feed and skated through left wing circle and tossed a wrister far post past Boyko to double the lead to 2-0 at the 8:49 mark of the frame.
Despite a great late push from the Mayhem, they were unable to muster a goal and were outshot 11-9 in the final frame and fell 2-0. The Bulls power play finished 1/5, and the Mayhem unit went 0/6. Hayden Stewart made 27 saves on 27 shots, picking up the shutout for the Bulls. On the other side, Josh Boyko made 29 stops on 31 opportunities for the Mayhem.
Macon returns to the ice Friday, October 30 at Pensacola at 8:05pm ET, marking the start of a seven-game road trip. The Mayhem will finally be back at home on Friday, November 20th at 7pm against the Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs for Pro Wrestling Night. Grab your tickets today at maconmayhem.com.
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