Elmira gets last laugh over Northeast with overtime win
ELMIRA, N.Y. – The Elmira Aviators (12-14-3-1) defeated the Northeast Generals (12-14-3-2) by a score of 4-3 in a gutsy overtime game Friday night.
The Aviators had leads of 2-0, 2-1 and 3-2, but the Generals refused to go away. Elmira was shorthanded in the final moments of regulation and the first 13 seconds of overtime.
However, the Aviators showed off their resilience by holding their heads high and coming away with victory thanks to youngster Andrew Horn.
The 17-year-old Princeton commit curled to the top of the slot and roped a shot past Generals’ goaltender Ryan Nolan in the extra session. It’s Horn’s fourth goal of the season and second as an Aviator.
Elmira also got a great night out of veteran Charlie Fink. Fink tallied the Aviators’ first two goals in the second period to put his team in front 2-0.
He also added an assist on Horn’s overtime goal. Friday’s game is Fink’s third multi-point game of the season and first with multiple goals.
Jett Otwell extended his point streak to six games with an assist on Fink’s second goal.
Matthew Maglio picked up the Aviators’ third goal putting him at joint-top of the Elmira goal charts. The third-period-tally was his ninth of the year.
Aviators’ goaltender Carson Barnes stopped 34 of 37 Generals shots. He is one win away from double digits with a record of 9-7-3-1 this season.
The Aviators stay in 8th in the East Division after Friday’s win but are just one point behind the Northeast Generals and New Hampshire Mountain Kings. If results go its way, Elmira can find itself in a playoff spot to end 2024.
At the very least, the Aviators can guarantee themselves to finish the year in 7th or better with a win over the Generals on Saturday.
Elmira will try to end 2024 with an exclamation point by securing the sweep over the Northeast Generals on Saturday at 7 p.m.
Fans who wear holiday attire to Saturday’s game will have $5 taken off of their ticket price. The game can also be streamed on NATV and listened to on Big Foot Country Legends.
Mac Young is the play-by-play voice of the Elmira Aviators. To contact him email [email protected].