Hemmerling's Three-Point Night Powers Silver Knights Past Eagles 4-2

Ben Hemmerling’s three-point night and Henderson’s special teams decided the game as the Silver Knights beat the Colorado Eagles 4-2 Saturday night at Lee’s Family Forum in Henderson, NV. Hemmerling, listed as a winger, finished with two goals and an assist while Henderson converted twice on four power-play chances.

Henderson opened the scoring on the power play at 11:20 of the first period when forward Kai Uchacz cut to the top of the crease, fielded a pass and lifted it into the net for his eighth goal of the season; Mitch McLain and Lukas Cormier were credited with the assists. Colorado answered 59 seconds later after an odd bounce off the boards sent the puck into the right-wing circle and defenseman Keaton Middleton smashed it home. Each team finished the opening frame with 13 shots and the score was 1-1 after 20 minutes.

The Silver Knights reclaimed the lead early in the second period when forward Tanner Laczynski fed a backhander in the low slot past goalie Trent Miner at the 6:30 mark, putting Henderson up 2-1. Henderson extended the advantage on another man-advantage later in the frame when Hemmerling buried a wrister from between the circles with 6:24 remaining in the middle period to make it 3-1. Henderson’s coverage notes that the second period ended with the Silver Knights holding that two-goal edge.

Colorado made a push in the third when Jayson Megna scored 14 minutes into the period to cut the lead to 3-2. Henderson answered later in the final frame as Hemmerling struck again to restore a two-goal cushion; that goal stood as the Silver Knights’ fourth and the game’s final tally, sealing a 4-2 victory.

Special teams told the story in the box score: Henderson finished 2-for-4 on the power play while Colorado went 0-for-2. Hemmerling’s two goals and an assist were singled out as a key reason Henderson converted on the opportunities. In net, Carl Lindbom earned the win with 39 saves on 41 shots, while Trent Miner was Colorado’s netminder on the night and was beaten on Laczynski’s second-period effort.

Henderson will remain at Lee’s Family Forum for a quick turnaround on the schedule listed by the club, including a 5 p.m. matchup versus the Colorado Eagles on Sunday, Mar. 1, followed by a Wednesday, Mar. 4 game against the Coachella Valley Firebirds and a trip to face the Ontario Reign on Friday, Mar. 6. Hemmerling’s multi-point game and Henderson’s 2-for-4 power play give the Silver Knights a blueprint to carry into those upcoming contests.