HOOKSETT, N.H. — The Mountain Kings (0-3) held a 2-0 lead in the first, a 4-3 lead in the second and a 5-4 lead in the third. However, New Hampshire couldn't hold onto any of them as Elmira (2-1) won 7-5.
A penalty late in the third against forward Cael Primanti gave the Mountain Kings a 4-on-4 and eventually their fifth power-play opportunity. New Hampshire forward Evan Ferraro finally broke the Aviators' penalty kill and gave the Mountain Kings a third lead.
Discipline eluded New Hampshire, though, and they committed a penalty of their own. With the man advantage, forward Cruz Ferguson scored his second power-play goal of the year and tied the game with 4:06 left. The Mountain Kings quickly committed another penalty, and less than 60 seconds after Ferguson's goal, forward Nico Pohjola netted the game winner.
“It was an unreal feeling seeing Nico put that goal in. Especially after going down one with five minutes left in a game we felt we were dominating.”
The scoring didn't stop with Pohjola's goal, though. Shortly after the faceoff at center ice, Primanti darted past the blue line and sent the puck in front for a tap-in goal by Maglio.
“Getting that first goal felt so good and was a sigh of relief after all those posts I hit last week in Danbury.”
The Aviators go back to the Delta Dental Arena on Saturday for the second game of the road trip. Puck drop is at 7:00 p.m.
Story by Kevin Broderick. Every date, home and away, is on the full 2026-27 schedule.