Rusty Fleury finally broke out of his scoring drought, even with a cast on his broken right thumb. Fleury scored two goals and added two assists, leading the CGHA team to a convincing 7-0 win Sunday (Feb. 15) over Arlington at the Nelson Sports Complex in Rolling Meadows. The win moves the CGHA to 7-5.
Larry Zyks scored what proved to be the game-winning goal with 0:55 remaining in the first period, the only goal of the period, converting a break-away shot into the upper right corner. Mike Kelly made it 2-0 at 8:17 of the second, trickling one past the Arlington goalie from the right side off Fleury’s pass. On the same shift, Fleury netted his first goal in over a month, probably longer, tipping home a Brian Merlot slapshot from the left point. Fleury made it 4-0 with 2:59 remaining in the second on a perfect pass from Chuck Jacobson. Fleury returned the favor to Jacobson with 1:22 remaining in the game as the CGHA President tallied the team’s final goal.
It appeared that Fleury stepped it up Sunday, perhaps because he’ll miss the next two games and fears the scoring title is slipping out of his grasp due to his thumb injury. Michael Ko scored one of the team’s best goals of the season about two minutes into the third period, one-timing a Zyks pass past the Arlington keeper. Ryan Ruskin netted the other CGHA goal on an assist from Terry McDonnell, and Ruskin earned the “Game Puck” for his solid work on wing and the goal, though some say Ruskin also needs to credit the Arlington defensemen who couldn’t clear the puck from their defensive zone.
John Adams stopped about 20 shots for his first career shutout.
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
Total
|
|
| CGHA |
1
|
3
|
3
|
7
|
| Arlington |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
Stats
Rusty Fleury: 2 goals, 2 assists
Chuck Jacobson: 1 goal, 2 assist
Larry Zyks: 1 goal, 1 assist
Mike Kelly: 1 goal
Brian Merlot: 1 assist
Michael Ko: 1 goal
Ryan Ruskin: 1 goal
Terry McDonnell: 1 assist
Andy Rogers: 2 PIM
Players Dressed
Rusty Fleury
Chuck Jacobson
Larry Zyks
Mike Kelly
Brian Merlot
Michael Ko
Ryan Ruskin
Terry McDonnell
Andy Rogers
Austin Baidas
Shane Thompson
John Adams