The Norman Northstars were 20 minutes away from their first win of the season Nov. 17 at home against the Southwest Cougars but gave up four straight goals in the third period and fell 6-5.
Trevor Hunt, Jordan Boyechko, Colten Miller and Hunter Wallace scored in a span of just over eight minutes of the third period to turn a 4-2 Northstars lead into a 6-4 advantage for the Cougars. Branden Hill scored his second of the game for the Northstars with a little over six minutes to play in the game but the comeback fizzled after that.
Hill had scored in the the second period to tie the game 2-2 and start a three-goal outburst that put the Northstars up 4-2 at the second intermission. Braeden Lewis had given Southwest a one-goal lead with a shorthanded tally about three minutes before Hill’s first of the game, which was followed by a power play goal by Ryan Monias and an even-strength marker by Albert Sinclair.
Evan White of the Cougars opened scoring in the game, but Derek Koivisto tied it up with a power play goal for the Northstars later in the first period.
Shots in the game were 60-20 and Rylan Potkonjak made 54 saves in a losing cause for the Northstars.
The series opened up with a 4-0 Southwest win Nov. 16. Lewis scored twice in the second period for the Cougars, who also got goals from Cody Gudnason and Miller. Shots in that game were 32-17 and Potkonjak made 28 saves in the Northstars’ net.
The still-winless Northstars head out on the road next weekend for games against the Eastman Selects, Winnipeg Thrashers and Interlake Lightning.
