Tigers Win Shootout With Highlanders, 7-6

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The playoff-bound North Allegheny ice hockey team outslugged Baldwin on Monday night, 7-6, at the Baierl Ice Complex. The Senior Night victory locks up fourth place for the Tigers and the No. 4 seed in the upcoming PIHL Class AAA playoffs.

Fittingly, it was one of the seniors who opened the scoring just 35 seconds into the game when Nate Spak tickled the twine for a 1-0 lead. At the 2:42 mark of the opening stanza, junior Evan Kerber scored to give the Tigers a 2-0 advantage.

The North Allegheny lead swelled to 3-0 on a power play goal by senior Trey Gallo before Baldwin got on the board at the 5:31 mark on a goal by Tanner Plinta. Just 21 seconds later, Gallo netted his second of the night for a 4-1 lead. The two teams traded goals in the remaining minutes of the period, including NA markers by Spak and junior Evan Perrotte, and the Tigers held a 6-3 lead at the end of two.

In the third, North Allegheny stretched the lead to 7-3 thanks to a goal by senior Matt Irvin at the 8:30 mark of the period. With their playoff hopes on the line, ninth-place Baldwin didn’t give in and scored three straight goals to trim the score to 7-6, Tigers, with 2:33 left in the game. Senior goalie Rylan Murphy and the Tigers defense fended off the Highlanders in the remaining minutes to vanquish the visiting Highlanders, 7-6.

Murphy made 20 saves to secure the win. Baldwin’s Alex Golvash stopped 29 pucks in a losing effort.

North Allegheny concludes the regular season with 12-5-3 record, good for 27 points and fourth place in Class AAA. Baldwin slips to 5-13-2 and is on the outside looking in with no games remaining in the Highlanders season. The Tigers will start the Penguins Cup Playoffs on Monday, March 6.

Ice Hockey Summary vs. Baldwin, 2-27-23

GAME SUMMARY
SCORE BY PERIODS123FINAL
Baldwin0336
North Allegheny2417