Ice Chips - the Federal Hockey League
Published on December 21, 2013 under Federal Prospects Hockey League (FPHL) News Release
Whalers Hang On and Down Dashers, 4-3
Danbury,CT- It's not how you win but the fact that you get the victory that is most important. The Whalers were able to hold off the late charge of the Dashers in the third period and come away with a 4-3 win on Friday night. Igor Karlov scored the game winning goal on a shorthanded penalty shot and Mike Brown made 32 saves to secure the win.
Cody Ayers got the scoring started for Danbury just 1:28 into the opening period. Iyla Solarev made a crisp cross ice pass onto the stick of Ayers who got the puck to the Dashers net. After an initial stop by Danville goalie Jeromy Semtner, Ayers was able to find the loose puck and tuck it home for his 9th of the season and give the Whalers the 1-0 lead. Both teams would have a power play opportunity in the first frame but neither was able to cash in.
In the second period it was the goaltenders who stole most of the show as both Mike Brown and Jeromy Semtner made several acrobatic saves to keep the puck out of the net. However, a bad turnover in his own zone by Dustin Henning would allow the Whalers to take a 2-0 lead after two periods. After the Dashers had killed off a big penalty to Edgars Ozolins, Henning would make a weak attempt to clear the puck by flipping it into the middle of his own zone. Tim Richter gloved the puck out of mid air and fed a pass down low where David Lun would redirect it home past Semtner for his 6th of the season.
In the third period Andrew Willock would continue his hot scoring streak as he connected on a wicked wrist shot from the top of the slot to make it 3-0. Willock(4th) corralled the puck in the neutral zone and stick handled nicely into the slot. Using the defender as a screen he unleashed a wrist shot which beat Semtner low to the glove side. Igor Karlov would tally his 4th of the season on a shorthanded penalty shot to make it 4-0. Karlov sprung free on a shorthanded breakaway and was taken down by Ozolins. On the ensuing penalty shot, Karlov would snap a wrist shot past Semtner to give the Whalers a commanding lead. However, an injury to Whalers goaltender Mike Brown would jump start a Dashers comeback with just over five minutes to go in the game.
Ryan Stern started the Danville rally with a shorthanded goal, his 5th of the season. Stern emerged from the penalty box just as the Dashers cleared the zone. Ozolins fed a pass ahead to the streaking stern who beat the new Whalers goaltender Joey Spagnoli to make it 4-1. The Dashers would cut the lead to two with only 1:24 to go thanks to a power play goal by Justin Barr. Barr was left alone in the slot and put a back handed shot over the glove of Spagnoli for his 9th of the season. Barr would strike again at 19:38 to cut the Whaler lead to 4-3. A loose puck at the side of the net found its way in front and Barr poked it home for his 10th of the season. That's as close as the Dashers would come though as the Whalers were able to fight off the Dashers final push and take the victory.
Mike Brown stopped all 32 shots he faced, while Spagnoli made 1 save in relief. Jeromy Semtner made 31 saves in the loss for Danville. Danbury was 0-5 on the power play including two 5 on 3 opportunities. Danville finished 1-5.
Federal Prospects Hockey League Stories from December 21, 2013
- Ice Chips - the Federal Hockey League - FPHL
- Danbury Whalers Home Tonight - Danbury Whalers
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