Mr. Ice Hockey posted on February 17, 2020 23:28
Kristopher Zapata scored with 51 seconds left in the third period as Eastern defeated Cherokee 4-3 in Tier I playoff action in Voorhees. Ryan Connor scored all three Cherokee goals. Eastern now moves into the Championship round, next Friday February 28th. Connor gave the Chiefs an early 1-0 lead scoring just over one minute into the game. The Vikings would respond on the power play as Ryan Karbach scored at the seven-minute mark to tie the game at 1-1. Just over two minutes later Zapata would give the Vikings a 2-1 lead converting a feed from Luke Riley.
Connor once again went to work early as he scored down low in the opening minute of the second period and we were knotted at 2-2. At the five-minute mark the Vikings would retake the lead on a goal by Luke Ravitz. That lead lasted less than one minute as Connor completed his hat trick and once again we were tied at 3-3. Entering the third period in a tie game and the winner would be in the drivers seat, the Chiefs would have their chances, first early in the period they went on the power play and failed to score. Then at the six-minute mark another opportunity, this time the best scoring chance came from Zapata as he had a short-handed breakaway only to be stopped by Andrew Lavdas.
With the period winding down and overtime looming, Zapata jumped on a puck laying in the slot and ripped home the game winner. The Chiefs would pull the goalie but could not get the equalizer. The Vikings are one win away from the Championship and since they went through the tournament without a loss, need their opponent to beat them twice, a tall task now.
Written by Mike Costantino