This wasn't the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees, but the Carson Senators hockey club pulled a pretty good comeback in its own right by scoring three times in the final 75 seconds to defeat Reed 7-5 in the Northern Nevada Roller Hockey League opener for both teams on Friday.
Ryan Dwyer's goal with 1:15 remaining tied the score at 5, then Dustin Zastre put in the go-ahead goal 30 seconds later as the Senators turned the tables on Reed in a rematch of last season's league championship contest. Reed won the championship and defeated Carson three times in five meetings during the 2003-04 season.
"They set it up so we'd have a rematch, and it was a fun way to start out the year," Carson coach Billy McHenry said. "It was a real good game that certainly lived up to its billing. Our kids did a great job. That was a great comeback win."
Carson trailed 5-4 with just under two minutes left to play when McHenry called for a time-out.
"I told the kids that if we didn't score, we were going to have to pull our goalie," he said. "Fortunately, we scored right away."
Dwyer tied the score and then Zastre fired in the go-ahead goal with 45 seconds left to play, forcing the Raiders to pull their goalie. Carson picked up some insurance at the end when Charlie Macquarrie scored into an empty net in the final five seconds.
Zastre finished with two goals and three assists, while Dwyer scored two goals. Todd Crowell, Colin Cormier also had goals to round out the scoring for Carson.
The two teams were tied 2-2 at the end of the first period and Reed led 3-2 at the end of the second. McHenry gave credit to a solid defensive effort that was led by goalkeeper Travis Hall.
"We did a real good job of holding Reed to five goals," McHenry said. "Travis played J.V. last year, so this was his first time out as a varsity goalie, and he did a great job."
The Senators went 19-3-1 and reached the league finals last season, but McHenry warned that this is a brand new season.
"It's going to be hard to get back (to the finals) because the league looks pretty strong," he said. "Douglas should be very strong; Manogue is back in the league, Bishop always has a good team, and Reed is still good."
Both Carson J.V. teams emerged as winners on Friday, as Carson Blue defeated Reed Blue 12-0 and Carson White defeated Reed Gold 8-6.
For more information on the Northern Nevada Roller Hockey League, go online to Renohockey.com.
