IceCaps Notch Second Straight OT Win
February 20, 2015 - American Hockey League (AHL)
St. John's IceCaps News Release
Patrice Cormier scored with 1:58 remaining in overtime as the St. John's IceCaps escaped with a huge 4-3 win over the Manchester Monarchs Friday night at Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester, N.H.
Connor Hellebuyck made 43 saves including six big stops in overtime for his 23rd win of the season, tying a franchise record and pulling him even with Monarchs goalie J.F. Berube for the AHL lead.
Eric O'Dell, Julien Brouillette and Austen Brassard each had a goal and an assist, while Keaton Ellerby notched two helpers.
The IceCaps got on the board first with a power play goal at 4:30 of the opening frame. Brouillette gathered the puck at the blue line and blasted a shot that was deflected by Brassard and past Berube, with the other assist going to Ellerby.
St. John's kept coming at the 7:42 mark on O'Dell's 13th of the season. After a shot attempt by Ellerby from the left circle, O'Dell found the loose puck, spun and fired one home for a 2-0 IceCaps lead.
Manchester cut the lead in half in the late stages of the first after a turnover in the IceCaps zone. David Van der Gulik sent the puck out front and Zach O'Brien backhanded a shot that was tipped by Andrew Bodnarchuk and eluded Hellebuyck to make it a 2-1 game.
The Monarchs tied it on a two-man advantage in the final minutes of the second. Mike Richards teed one up for Colin Miller, whose shot was tipped in from by Michael Mersch and past Hellebuyck.
St. John's jumped back on top at 14:42 of the third with their second power play goal of the game. Brouillette took a pass in the slot and ripped a shot under the bar to give his club a brief lead.
Manchester wasted no time tying it once again on a goal by Brian O'Neill just 1:24 later. After a terrific save by Hellebuyck, O'Neill found the loose puck in the crease and shovelled home the equalizer.
After weathering the storm for the first five minutes of overtime, the opportunistic IceCaps capitalized on their only real chance in the extra frame as Cormier surged in on a partial break from centre ice, shrugged off a Monarchs defender and made a beautiful move to beat Berube for the win.
The IceCaps and Monarchs face off for the final time in 2014-15 Saturday night at Verizon Wireless Arena (8:30 p.m.) Catch all the action with broadcaster Brian Rogers at www.stjohnsicecaps.com, 930AM and www.ahllive.com. Pregame show begins at 8:00.
The IceCaps next home action is March 6 and 7 vs. the Albany Devils. Tickets are available at the Mile One Centre Box Office, by phone at 576-7657 or online at www.mileoncentre.com.
Notes | Not dressed: Jason Jaffray, Ben Walker, Scott Kosmachuk, Jordan Hill, Joel Armia, Ryan Parent, Peter Budaj... Hellebuyck's win gives him 23 on the season, tied for most in a season by an IceCaps goalie with Eddie Pasquale, who set the mark in 2011-12. Hellebuyck started his 15th straight game, also a club record... Will O'Neill extended his point streak to four games (7A)... Eric O'Dell has four points (1G, 3A) in his last two games... Keaton Ellerby has three assists in his last two games... Brendan Kichton has three points (2G, 1A) in his last two games... Austen Brassard has two goals and three points in his last three games... St. John's went 2-for-4 on the power play and 3-for-4 on the penalty kill... The IceCaps were outshot 46-32... Molson Canadian Three Stars: 1. Patrice Cormier 2. Connor Hellebuyck 3. Julien Brouillette... IceCaps Hardest Working Player: Brenden Kichton.
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