Kenston vs. Strongsville hockey: Luke Mack overtime goal propels Bombers, 4-3
Jan. 21—Kenston coach Tom Moores refers to Luke Mack as the "wheel" that makes one of the most potent forward lines in Ohio operate with the precision it does.
Jan. 21 in a crosstown venture to Strongsville, the "wheel" directed the Bombers to the winner's circle.
Mack's goal, his second of the night, with 1 minute, 25 seconds to go in overtime propelled Kenston to a 4-3 win in a GCHSHL White crossover.
The Bombers (14-10) will want to focus on lead management, after relinquishing a two-goal lead in the second period and a late third-period advantage. But at least they had the lead for the bus ride home.
#NHhockey Kenston junior forward Troy Krahe discusses a 4-3 OT win at Strongsville
Chippy on the forecheck, generally active, good rebound bury in the 1st — had himself a nice game overall pic.twitter.com/4zfrqqRPzJ
— Chris Lillstrung (@CLillstrungNH) January 22, 2023
"We definitely didn't have our top game today," Moores said. "We had control of them, and we stopped skating. They started skating and were beating us to loose pucks for the better half of the second half of the game. That was kind of the difference and what kept them in the game, by us allowing them to stick around.
"Fortunately it went to overtime. We got a lucky bounce there and were able to get out of this game with a win. A gutsy effort, and these types of games, we have to win, and we were actually able to pull it off tonight."
Mack had put Kenston up, 3-2, getting his stick down in traffic between the circles off a Gavin Rowell feed at 8:28 of the third period.
#NHhockey Kenston 3-2
Luke Mack at 8:28 pic.twitter.com/JRN9NtxFA2
— Chris Lillstrung (@CLillstrungNH) January 22, 2023
But the Mustangs got a Brett Kappel goal 73 seconds later to make it 3-3, which is where it stayed into OT.
There, Mack shelved a wrister for his 27th goal of the winter, getting enveloped by his tired but overjoyed teammates.
#NHhockey Luke Mack says good night
Kenston wins it 4-3 at 6:35 of OT pic.twitter.com/nLMYNHvePZ
— Chris Lillstrung (@CLillstrungNH) January 22, 2023
The sophomore brought some levity before the extra session, bopping along to Fergie's 2006 hit "Glamorous" as it played over the PA.
Then he delivered a glamourous goal to end a long evening. His line, with Rowell and Troy Krahe, has now accounted for a combined 102 goals this season.
"So Gavin and Troy, they were battling it out. I think Gavin tossed it over to Troy," Mack said of the sequence leading to his game-winner. "And Troy tried getting through them, but he got locked up. He left the puck there for me perfectly. So I just came in and grabbed it, and it was a one-on-one. I just shot past a player top shelf."
Krahe gave Kenston a 1-0 lead out of the opening 15, literally doing all the work himself. He won a faceoff, crashed for a wrister, had that initial look stymied but buried a rebound past the left pad at 11:48.
#NHhockey Kenston 1-0
Troy Krahe at 11:48 pic.twitter.com/gApX4f0ZCG
— Chris Lillstrung (@CLillstrungNH) January 22, 2023
Rowell increased the margin to 2-0 at 2:09 of the second. The standout sophomore skated a puck along the back boards, emerged and let loose with a long wrister past an attempted glove stop for his 40th goal of the season.
#NHhockey Kenston 2-0
Gavin Rowell with a dart at 2:09 for his 40th of the season pic.twitter.com/LbobJN8oxi
— Chris Lillstrung (@CLillstrungNH) January 22, 2023
Christian Smith responded for the Mustangs with tallies midway through the period, including at 10:03 to make it a 2-2 game.
Then came the frenetic conclusion.
In the middle of a three-game weekend — they beat Aurora, 7-2, on Jan. 20 and have fellow Baron Cup II contender Hudson WRA coming to The Pond on Jan. 22 — the Bombers looked like they needed a spark to shift into gear.
It was nothing that a "wheel" could not fix.
"I don't think we came in fully prepared," Mack said candidly. "Although we came out in the first period strong, we got slower. I think we thought we had it. We needed to lock them up better.
"I like where we're at (for Baron Cup II seeding). ... I like our spot."
