GOLD KINGS EDGE MALLARDS 6–5 IN OVERTIME THRILLER AT THE JAR

November 22, 2025- John A. Ryan Arena, Watertown, MA

In a game that had everything—speed, scoring, tempers, and an overtime finish—the Boston Gold Kings escaped with a 6–5 victory over the Norfolk Mallards Saturday night at the John A. Ryan Arena.

Boston outshot Norfolk 52–35 and controlled long stretches of play, but the Mallards clawed back from a 5–2 deficit to force overtime before Shawn Savela got the winner just 85 seconds into the extra frame.

The Gold Kings opened the game flying, scoring three unanswered goals in the first 15 minutes. At 0:55, Matt Baldino buried the opening goal after a feed from his brother Christian Baldino, putting Boston up 1–0. At 9:30, Ernie Isamatov doubled the lead with an unassisted strike, beating LoRusso high glove. Moments later at 14:40, Brandon Garneau made it 3–0, capitalizing on a miscue behind the Mallards net.

Norfolk finally broke through on the power play at 18:56, when Patrick Keenan snapped home a setup from David Piela, cutting the deficit to 3–1. The Gold Kings would take a 3-1 lead into the first intermission.

At 2:25 of the second period, Boston’s Nick McNally scored off a clean feed from Tony DiCostanzo to push the lead to 4–1.
Only 13 seconds later, Norfolk answered when David Duffy finished a slick pass from Danila Belov to make it 4–2.

Boston struck again at 6:37 when Cam Cordio buried his chance, assisted by McNally and Shawn Savela, restoring the three-goal cushion.

But Norfolk refused to go away. Danila Belov scored at 9:06, his first of two on the night, tightening the game to 5–3 heading into the third despite Boston carrying a heavy 19–15 shot advantage in the period.

At 8:55 of the 3rd the Mallards got things going on a turnover in the slot that Caden Rakes fired home, pulling Norfolk to within one at 5–4.

Then at 13:46, with Boston in the box, Belov struck again—this time on the power play—off a perfect pass from Patrick Keenan, tying the game 5–5 and capping off a 3-goal Norfolk comeback.

With the game tied at 5-5 after 3 periods the game would head to overtime, but it didn’t last long. At 1:25, Shawn Savela jumped into the play, took a feed from CJ Grinnell, and snapped a shot off the post that came out and deflected in off of one of the Mallards players, for the 6–5 game-winner.

Postgame Breakdown

Shots on Goal

• Boston- 52
• Norfolk- 35

Power Plays

• Boston- 0-for-5
• Norfolk- 2-for-6

Penalty Minutes

• Boston- 58
• Norfolk- 56

Goaltenders

• Boston: Evan Morelli– 30 saves on 35 shots, (Win)
• Norfolk: Andrew LoRusso– 46 saves on 52 shots (Loss)

Coming up

• 12/6 Salem at Norfolk at 6:00pm @ New England Sports Village
• 12/13 Boston at Hudson Valley at 7:00pm @ McCann Ice Arena

THREE STARS OF THE GAME

1st Star- Shawn Savela (Boston) – OT game-winner & 1 assist
2nd Star- Danila Belov (Norfolk) – 2 goals, 1 assist
3rd Star- Andrew LoRusso (Norfolk) – 46 Saves on 52 Shots