The Brooklyn Aviators lost another player — and another game — as the smoking New Jersey Outlaws gunned down our flyers 5–3 in the so-called “Garden State” on the same day forward Vladimir Nikiforvov parachuted from Brooklyn to the despised Central Hockey League.
The Aviators certainly could have used Nikiforvov, who had nine goals and 12 assists in 10 games with or Boys of winter, on Friday night: by the end of the first frame, Brooklyn was already behind 3-1, with center Matt Atsoff netting the team’s only point.
The Outlaws never let up, scoring two more goals in the second period, giving them a 5-1 lead that the Aviators, qhite simply, couldn’t overcome.
New Jersey out shot the Aviators 43-33 behind the power of two former Aviators, John Goffredo and Matt Puntureri, who jumped ship to play on the mainland when former Brooklyn Aces coach Chris Firriolo set up shop in Dirty Jersey.
This loss was the Aviators’ second in two tries versus the Outlaws this season. Brooklyn hopes gate one back tonight when they return to the Capital One Ice Vault in Wayne.
The Brooklyn Aviators will be back home to play the Danbury Whalers at Aviator Sports [3159 Flatbush Ave. in Floyd Bennett Field in Marine Park, (718) 758-7580] on Dec. 3 at 7:35 pm. Tickets $12 ($10 for seniors and children under 14). For information visit www.brooklynaviators.com.
Read all of Tom Tracy's coverage of the Brooklyn Aviators online at BrooklynDaily.com, and in print in your Courier Life Newspaper. Tom can be reached at ttracy@cnglocal.com.
