Game 5 Preview: IceCaps at Penguins
Published on May 8, 2012 under American Hockey League (AHL)
St. John's IceCaps News Release
The St. John's IceCaps can advance to the Eastern Conference Finals with a win tonight in Game 5 against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins at Mohegan Sun Arena in Wilkes-Barre, PA.
The IceCaps lead the best-of-seven conference semifinal series three games to one after a pair of thrilling overtime victories this past weekend.
Saturday, the IceCaps weathered the storm during a second period in which they were outshot 11-0 and 29-16 overall. Despite a goal by Eric Tangradi that tied the game for the Penguins with just 1:02 left in regulation, Brock Trotter lifted the visitors to a 2-1 victory in the extra frame with a beautiful solo effort.
Sunday, St. John's fell behind 2-0 in the game's first seven minutes but rallied back to tie the game with two goals in the second period. A tense, scoreless third period led to a second straight overtime game, where Ben Maxwell potted a loose puck in front of Penguins goalie Brad Thiessen to give the IceCaps a 3-2 triumph and a commanding 3-1 series lead heading into Tuesday's Game 5.
To say the IceCaps are the comeback kids this playoffs may not do them justice. St. John's is 3-1 in games in which it allows the first goal, and a perfect 3-0 when trailing after one period. The two weekend overtime victories also give the IceCaps a 3-0 record in the extra frame these playoffs and bring the team to 4-1 in one-goal games.
"Those guys know they have a good team and they know they have the firepower to get themselves out of that," McCambridge said of the early 2-0 hole in Game 4. "They have the character and the will to push through that kind of deficit."
Of course, the IceCaps would rather not give the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins a head start.
"Wilkes-Barre is a very good team," McCambridge added. "And they've played some strong games. We need one win, so we just take every game in this series one game at a time, one period at a time. We have to make sure we're ready to go for Tuesday night's game."
Quick Hits:
- The IceCaps have won all four meetings at Mohegan Sun Arena this season (regular season and playoffs) and have limited the Penguins to just five goals
- Ben Maxwell's two points in Game 4 gave him three points (2G, 1A) in the series and seven points (4G, 3A) in seven games against the Penguins this season
- St. John's is just 2-for-13 on the power play in the series heading into Game 5 and are 13-for-15 on the penalty kill
- Penguins F Eric Tangradi has three of the Penguins' seven goals in the series
American Hockey League Stories from May 8, 2012
- Toronto Defeats Abbotsford 3-1 in Game Four - Toronto Marlies
- Heat Face Elimination to Marlies, Down 3-1 - Abbotsford Heat
- Penguins Extend Series to Game 6 - St. John's IceCaps
- Despres' Goal in Double OT Wins It for Penguins - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Rampage Weekly Update - San Antonio Rampage
- Whale Weekly, May 8-13 - Connecticut Whale
- Get Your Season Tickets for 2012-13 - Rockford IceHogs
- Conference Semifinals Tied at Two Games Apiece - Norfolk Admirals
- Barons Take 2-1 Series Lead over San Antonio - Oklahoma City Barons
- Kleinendorst Moving On - Binghamton Senators
- Game 5 Preview: IceCaps at Penguins - St. John's IceCaps
- Heat vs Marlies Game 4 Preview - Abbotsford Heat
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