Gems erase 2-goal deficit, win in OT

After great save by MacIntyre, Lipsett scores to give Dayton 4-3 victory.

TROTWOOD — Chris Lipsett rescued Dayton with a goal off his skate just 37 seconds into overtime for a 4-3 win over the Evansville IceMen on Thursday night at Hara Arena.

Moments after overtime began, Gems goaltender Derek MacIntyre (35 saves) made a superb toe stop, allowing Dayton to rush up ice.

“Mac made the game-saver,” said Lipsett, the game’s first star with two goals and an assist. “I drove the net and set my skates and stick so it would hit something.”

“I’m losing hairs,” Gems coach Brian Gratz said after his team’s second straight comeback victory.

Nick Canzanello and newcomer Matthew Larke also scored the Gems.

Down 3-1 in the third, Canzanello buried a shot from the left faceoff circle.

Larke’s first goal as a Gem was critical. He made it 3-3 when he beat David Wilson on the power play with 6:11 remaining in regulation. It was Larke’s second game after driving 12 hours from Mississippi to join the club last weekend.

“It’s just a big weight off my shoulders,” said Larke, who was busy putting tape around the puck, a memento he said was going on the mantle.

Evansville led 3-1 after two periods, but the Gems (10-5-1) rallied.

“Coming off the ice, you could tell the guys were deflated,” said Gratz. “But we were still in it.”

“We have great character in this room,” Lipsett said.

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