Johnson puts up three points, Marksmen beat Mayhem 4-3 in comeback fashion
MACON, Ga. – Max Johnson had three points and Ryan Kenny won his SPHL debut as the Fayetteville Marksmen defeated the Macon Mayhem in comeback fashion, securing a weekend sweep at the Macon Coliseum Saturday.
For a second straight night, the Marksmen met the Mayhem in Macon, but neither team was able to find the back of the net through 20 minutes of play. Both squads had a powerplay opportunity in the frame, but the goaltenders controlled the action, and Fayetteville netminder Kenny turned aside 6 Macon attempts.
The Marksmen opened the scoring early in the second period off the stick of Billy Jerry (1) when he stole the puck just inside neutral ice and took it all the way into the zone before ripping home the 1-0 goal at 3:37. Cam Cook (2) and Nick Parody (2) picked up assists on the goal. Macon would take momentum away from Fayetteville and find the back of the net twice before the end of the frame, taking a 2-1 lead into the second intermission despite being outshot 20-15.
The third period began with another quick Mayhem goal, but Fayetteville started to climb back shortly thereafter. Nearly four minutes into the period, Johnson (2) lit the lamp from Tyler Kobryn (1) and Matt Araujo (1) two minutes and 12 seconds after Macon stretched its lead. Johnson continued to factor in the scoring, as past the halfway point of the frame, he worked to steal a puck behind the net and passed it in front for a Simon Boyko (1) tip-in goal to tie the game 3-3 with 8:16 remaining. The comeback was cemented less than three minutes later when Fayetteville capitalized on a 4-on-3 PWC Powerplay. Brendon Michaelian (2) dished to Johnson at the top of the faceoff circle, and he fired a shot off the right pad of the Macon goaltender, creating a massive rebound. The puck went right to Cam Cook (1), who sent it into the wide-open net at 13:56 to round out the game’s scoring. Macon pulled its goaltender for an extra-attacker scenario late in the third, but Fayetteville held on for Kenny’s first SPHL win, 4-3 over the Mayhem.
In total, Kenny was credited with 19 saves in his league debut. Johnson dropped the gloves with formern Marksmen Sasha Roy at 8:52 of the second period, which would ultimately set up the first Gordie Howe Hat Trick of the 2023-24 campaign.
With the win, the Marksmen jump the Mayhem for 4th place in the SPHL standings, and will look to make it three in a row when they visit Knoxville November 3.
Single game tickets are on sale for all 2023-24 Fayetteville Marksmen home games, including Pro Wrestling Night featuring WWE HOF Mick Foley, Saturday, November 4, at the Crown Coliseum. Visit marksmenhockey.com to get yours today.
