Hot Start Fizzles, Sents Lose 4-1 to Rockers

Consistency has been tough to find for the Indiana Sentinels early on this season. We have seen the Sentinels get off to a very good start on the first night in Topeka where they controlled the Scarecrows in the first period. Unfortunately, we have also seen the Sentinels get off to slower starts more often than not leading them to have to play from behind.

Scoring started early in the first for the Sentinels who scored the first goal of the game for the first time all season. That was a feat they had accomplished only 16 times last season. David MacDonald held the puck in at the far blue line and tossed a shot toward the net. After getting partially blocked halfway through, the puck landed on Jason Tynan’s stick who had the presence of mind to settle down a rolling puck and roof it over the shoulder of Ricardo Gonzalez to give the Sents a 1-0 lead.

This was arguably the best start the Sentinels have had to this point. They were physical. Finishing hits in the offensive zone, stepping up at the right times in the defensive zone creating some massive collisions. They were fast, and winning battles all across the ice. Their passing was much crisper than last night. Tape-to-tape passes in stride which made breakouts a whole lot smoother.

The second period was a different story. The Sentinels were unable to get back to that fast paced, physical style from the first period which led to a handful of penalties called against them.

The Sentinels were able to fend off the Rockers until the 8:40 mark of the period. On a 5-on-3 penalty kill, a blocked pass deflected right to TJ Sneath who swatted home his fifth goal of the year to tie the game at one.

Just two and a half minutes later, former Sentinel Jhuwon Davis cleaned up a rebound in the slot and potted his fourth of the year and just like that the Rockers had the lead. The Sentinels were outshot in that period eleven to seven.

Indiana had a chance to start getting momentum back with a powerplay to start the third period. Although they had good puck movement and generated quality chances, they could not find a way to beat Gonzalez.

The Sentinels’ best chance came with under three minutes remaining where Brady Estabrook was set up by Ben Stefanini. Estabrook had a seemingly wide-open cage, but Gonzalez dove across with a windmill stack-the-pad save to rob Estabrook of his first goal.

Motor City gave themselves some breathing room with six and a half minutes to play in the period. Clayton Hightower intercepted a pass in the neutral zone, starting a rush the other way and made a slick move around a check before going under the blocker of Will Pinney to make it 3-1.

Indiana made a late push, but an empty net goal from Grant Bondy with ten seconds remaining sealed the victory for the Rockers.

Special teams were a factor again with the Sentinels going scoreless on the powerplay in six attempts. Motor City picked up one powerplay goal on their seven chances. Final shots were in favor of Indiana 30 to 17.

Next weekend, the Sents head back on the road to take on the Watertown Wolves for the first time this season. We’ll have every moment for you on the Sentinels Hockey Network. Coverage starts with the Body Armor Pre-Game Show at 6:50 pm ET, and puck drop at 7:15 pm ET.