Chops finish pre-season with thrilling 4-3 OT win
Published on October 5, 2008 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Iowa Chops News Release
Pre-season game #2 for the Iowa Chops began in front of a home partisan crowd at Bucs Arena, happy to see their new team for the very first time. It didn't take long for the Chops to get the home crowd fired up with the brand of hockey that Anaheim fans have become accustomed to. After Chops forward Ryan Dingle took a high stick to the head, Chops forward Drew Miller proceeded to dish out justice in a fight with Quad City Flames winger Carsen Germyn. The momentum swung the Chops way and halfway through the 1st period as forward Ryan Dingle smashed home a loose puck in front to give the Chops their first lead of the pre-season. Petteri Wirtanen and Brendan Mikkelson assisted on the goal. The next face-off Drew Miller proceeded to get in his second fight of the game, quickly becoming the early fan favorite. Minutes later Chops defenseman Stu Bickel got involved in the third fight of the game. Thanks in large part to his 16 saves in the period, Chops goaltender J.P. Levasseur continued to keep the momentum flowing the Chops way. With only :16 seconds remaining in the period, NHL veteran Eric Boguniecki put home a rebound drive past Flames goalie Leland Irving after the initial shot from Drew Miller. The Flames outshot the Chops 16-9 in the period, but it was the Chops taking the 2-0 lead into the lockerroom.
An early double minor penalty to the Chops to start the 2nd period, gave Quad City their first goal cutting the score to 2-1 coming on the power play. Flames forward Dan Ryder got a pass in the high slot and fired a drive past the blocker of Chops goaltender J.P. Levasseur. The Flames kept the momentum going on the same power play as Warren Peters picked up a loose puck in the high slot and fired a snap shot past the low glove side of Levasseur, tying the score at 2-2. The Chops got some power play time of their own thanks to a 5 on 3 power play late in the period. Flames goaltender Leland Irving did his best to keep the game tied with several saves while the Flames were on the penalty kill. Quad City outshot the Chops 12-9 in the period.
The 3rd period began with both teams not wanting to make a mistake. Quad City substituted their goalies and put Ryan Dutton in goal. Dutton stopped a breakaway attempt from Drew Miller early in the 3rd period, but then the Chops were awarded back-to-back power plays. Despite several chances the Flames, led by Dutton's saves kept the Chops at bay. The Flames too their first lead of the night thanks to a 2 on 1 goal from Mike Hamilton to Brandon Straub, who one-timed a drive past Levasseur for the 3-2 lead. With the Chops in desperation mode and Levasseur pulled for the extra attacker, Ryan Dingle struck again for his 2nd goal of the night with help from Petteri Wirtanen and Eric Regan to tie the game at 3-3 with only :39 seconds remaining in regulation.
In the overtime, it didn't take the Chops long to win the game as hero of the night #18 Drew Miller picked up a rebound and smashed the game-winner past Dutton to give the Chops a 4-3 overtime win. Ajay Baines assisted on the goal after the original shot.
Head Coach Gord Dineen's comments on the game: "Overall, I thought we played well. It was very hard for the team's to establish any kind of flow because of the penalties. We still need some work on and cohesiveness on special teams, but I think that will come in time and with practice. I thought Drew Miller played very well. He has taken a leadership role early on with this team. He did a little bit of everything tonight. Ryan Dingle also has made an impact from the start of camp and it was good to see him contribute as well. He is working his tail off to try and earn a roster spot."
American Hockey League Stories from October 5, 2008
- Chops finish pre-season with thrilling 4-3 OT win - Iowa Chops
- Hartford pushes shutout streak against the Sound Tigers to two games - Bridgeport Islanders
- Quick DaSilva Finishes Off Monarchs In Nail Biter - Manchester Monarchs
- Hartford whitewashes Bridgeport again in preseason finale - Connecticut Whale
- Sharks See-Saw Past Monarchs 5-4 In Fitchburg - Worcester Sharks
- Minnesota Wild reassigns four players to Aeros, one to juniors - Houston Aeros
- New Jersey Devils Reduce Roster to 23 - Albany Devils
- Dan LaCosta Recalled by Columbus - Syracuse Crunch
- Amerks Trim Roster By Ten - Rochester Americans
- Devils Nipped By Sound Tigers, 4-3 - Albany Devils
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