Birthday Boy Plays Hero as IceCaps Stun Sharks

March 30, 2013 - American Hockey League (AHL)
St. John's IceCaps News Release


The St. John's IceCaps snatched victory from the jaws of defeat Saturday night in Worcester, coming back from a two-goal deficit to win 5-4 in overtime over the Sharks.

Ben Maxwell, celebrating his 25th birthday, scored the tying goal with 53 seconds left in regulation and notched the game-winner just 23 seconds into the extra frame. Maxwell finished the night with two goals and an assist, while Will O'Neill and Aaron Gagnon each had a goal and an assist.

Eddie Pasquale made 30 saves in the victory, the fourth in a row for St. John's and sixth in its last seven.

Worcester jumped out to an early 1-0 lead on a goal by Peter Sivak just 3:29 after the opening faceoff. Daniil Tarasov gained the IceCaps zone and dropped the puck to Sivak, who wired a wrister past a screened Pasquale to give the home side a 1-0 advantage.

Jason Gregoire scored an unassisted goal at 14:21 of the first with a shorthanded marker. Gregoire stole the puck from Tarasov at centre ice and burst in alone, deking to the backhand and beating Tomas Greiss to make it 1-1.

Early in the second, Gagnon extended his point streak to 12 games with his 11th goal of the season. On a two-on-one rush, Maxwell took a shot and Gagnon swept in the rebound to put St. John's on top 2-1 at the 1:41 mark.

The Sharks tied the score at two late in the second period. Tarasov sent the puck out in front of the net and it found Bracken Kearns, who slammed it past Pasquale to square things up heading into the third period.

In the final frame, Jon Matsumoto was awarded with a penalty shot after being interfered with by Patrick Cullity on a clear-cut breakaway. Matsumoto made no mistake in burying a wrist shot to give the Sharks a 3-2 lead.

Minutes later, Kearns added his second of the game. Sebastian Stalberg spun a sent a backhand pass out front to Kearns, who tapped it in to make it 4-2.

The IceCaps drew to within one with 2:44 left in the third when O'Neill notched his second of the season. O'Neill let a shot go from the point that got through traffic and beat Greiss to close the gap to 4-3.

Then, with just 53 seconds left in regulation, the IceCaps tied the game at four. O'Neill put the puck on net and it was deflected in front by Maxwell, sending the game to overtime.

Maxwell's goal in the extra frame helped improve the IceCaps to 4-1 on their five game road trip.

The IceCaps head home for their final home stand of the season next weekend when they host the Toronto Marlies for a pair of games. Catch all the action with broadcaster Brian Rogers at stjohnsicecaps.com and on 930AM This Is Newfoundland Labrador, or watch online at ahllive.com. Friday's game can be seen live on Rogers TV. Puck drop is set for 7:30 p.m. with the pregame show beginning at 7:00.

Notes: Aaron Gagnon extended his club-record point streak to 12 games with a goal and an assist and has three straight multi-point games... Eric O'Dell failed to score for the first time in his last seven games... Ben Maxwell extended his point streak to three games (4G, 2A) and was on the ice for all four IceCaps goals. He also led the club with five shots on goal... Eddie Pasquale, starting for the first time since Mar. 9 vs. Syracuse, recorded an assist on the game-winning goal... The four-game winning streak is the longest this season... The IceCaps are a perfect 6-0-0-0 all-time vs. the Sharks at DCU Center.



American Hockey League Stories from March 30, 2013


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