The Dawgs found themseleves outmatched by an explosive Ice Flyers offense

ROANOKE, Va. (WDBJ) - The Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs (0-2-0-6) were bested by the Pensacola Ice Flyers (7-0-0-1), 6-2 on Saturday night at Berglund Center.

The first period was defined by special teams, as both sides found the back of the net on the powerplay.

Yahor Ramanau was called for hooking at the 3:11 mark, and just 15 seconds into the ensuing powerplay, Casey Gerstein tipped a Connor Bertamini shot into the back of the net for his first career SPHL goal. The tally gave the Dawgs the opening strike for the second consecutive night.

However, Pensacola responded at the 12:20 mark following a Zack Jones cross-checking penalty. Bradley Somers converted on the power play to tie the game at one. The Ice Flyers then capitalized on a True Crowe delay-of-game penalty, scoring their second power-play goal of the period at the 15:21 mark to take a 2-1 lead.

Roanoke’s third penalty of the period sent Cole Brennan to the box for hooking. Just as the penalty expired, Ryan Helliwell ripped a shot top shelf for his first goal of the season, giving Pensacola a 3-1 advantage heading into the first intermission.

After going 3-for-6 on the power play the previous night, the Ice Flyers opened Saturday’s contest2-for-3 on the man advantage. Roanoke finished the first period 1-for-1 on the power play.

The second period produced three more goals, as Ryan Reifler brought the Dawgs within one with a tally at the 4:57 mark.

Roanoke appeared to tie the game at three, but the goal was waved off. Instead, Pensacola went the other way and found the back of the net twice more, with goals from Porter Schachle and Alex Dameski to extend its advantage.

The Ice Flyers carried a 5-2 lead into the third period, where tensions continued to rise. Dakota Zarudny scored Pensacola’s sixth and final goal just 1:50 into the period.

The bad blood boiled over at the 17:30 mark when a bench-clearing altercation broke out. Gerstein, David Novotny and Caden Pattison each received misconduct penalties, while Head Coach Dan Bremner was ejected. The Dawgs finished the contest with just nine skaters.

The Dawgs remain at home next weekend to host the Athens Rock Lobsters for a pair of games. The series opens Friday, November 13, with a 7:05 P.M. puck drop.