Plymouth icers run on all cylinders
in 8-6 victory over WL Western

Feb. 20, 2010, 2:15 a.m.

  Plymouth's offense was sharper than the blade of an ice skate Thursday night against Walled Lake Western.

  The Wildcats improved to 17-5-1 with an exciting 8-6 triumph over Walled Lake Western.

  "We moved the puck really well tonight," said Plymouth coach Paul Fassbender. "We were able to get everyone some ice time."

  The Wildcats outshot the Warriors, 51-13.

  Western lit the lamp 17 seconds into the contest, but the 'Cats stormed back five minutes later with Pat Smiatacz's equalizer from Evan Swieczkowski and Ryan Renault.

  Nick Schultz gave Plymouth a 2-1 lead with a goal assisted by Taylor Currier and Swieczkowski. Western re-knotted the sea-saw battle, 2-2, but Plymouth carried a 3-2 advantage into the first intermission thanks to Zach Gambrell's goal from Tyler Sanders and Ryan Brown.

  Gambrell doubled Plymouth's lead to 4-2 three minutes into the second period, but Western retaliated three minutes later to make it 4-3.

  The Wildcats extended their cushion to 6-3 at the end of the second period thanks to goals from Renault (from Justin Bauer) and Ryan Bauer (from Gambrell and Currier).

  Sanders and Cody Hunt capped the scoring with third-period goals. Gambrell and Justin Bauer assisted Sanders while Renault picked up a helper on Hunt's goal.