ECHL Brampton Beast

Beast Move Back into First Place with Big Win over Elmira

March 19, 2017 - ECHL (ECHL)
Brampton Beast News Release


ELMIRA, NEW YORK - Brampton Beast forward Luke Pither netted a pair of goals, Willie Corrin recorded a goal and two assists and both Brandon Marino and Connor Crisp each recorded a goal and an assist to help propel the Beast back to first place in the North Division with a big 6-2 win over the Elmira Jackals at First Arena on Saturday night.

Beast starting goaltender Zach Fucale turned in another solid performance and made 28 saves and recorded an assist to pick up his 24th victory of the season.

Jordan Henry added an empty net goal for his 14th tally of the season, tying him with Mathew Maione for the most goals scored by a Beast defenseman in a single season, set by Maione in the 2014-15 season.

These two North Division rivals traded chances throughout the majority of the opening period before the Beast finally broke through. Brandon Marino dove over a defender to reach a Connor Crisp rebound and slid home his 17th goal of the season. The goal was Marino's 100th point as a member of the Beast and gave the club a 1-0 lead at 17:32.

With only 35 seconds left in the first period, Luke Pither took control of the puck in the slot and sent a laser beam on goal that beat Jackals starter Jason Kasdorf for a power play goal, giving Pither goal number 14 on the season, sending the Beast into the first intermission with a 2-0 lead.

Pither remained hot to start the second period and scored his second power play goal of the game just 6:39 into the second frame, ripping another sizzling shot over the glove of Kasdorf, pushing the Beast lead to 3-0.

Kenton Miller got one back for Elmira in the final minute of play of the second period, cutting the Beast lead to 3-1 heading into the second intermission. The Beast held a 26-21 edge on the shot clock after 40 minutes of play.

The potent Beast offense would not be denied when the puck dropped in the third period. Beast defenseman Willie Corrin attempted a slap shot from the point but broke his stick on the play. There was enough momentum on the puck to send it toward the goal and that's where Connor Crisp got a piece of it to redirect it behind Kasdorf, giving the Beast another power play tally at 7:13.

The Jackals thought they had scored at the 10:45 mark of the third period to cut the deficit to 4-2, but the officials overturned the goal call and the score remained 4-1 for Brampton. Jackals Head Coach Mike Duco earned a game misconduct for throwing equipment onto the ice.

It was the Beast who came out flying after the overturned goal as Willie Corrin sent a shot on goal from the point that beat Kasdorf cleanly for his eighth goal of the season, pushing the Beast lead to 5-1 at 11:20.

Mark Bennett scored at the 13:55 mark to make it interesting, but Jordan Henry sealed the win with an empty net goal from his own end at 18:18, giving the Beast 77 points, good enough for top spot in the North Division, one point ahead of the Reading Royals, who have played one more game than the Beast.

Notes: The Beast finished the game 3-for-6 on the power play and 2-for-3 on the penalty kill. Molson Three Stars: 3) Fucale (BRM) 2) Corrin (BRM) 1) Pither (BRM). The Beast return to action tomorrow, Sunday, March 19 at the Powerade Centre in Brampton as they host the Fort Wayne Komets on Ninja Turtles Day at 2:00PM.

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ECHL Stories from March 19, 2017


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