Ice Chips
Published on November 15, 2013 under Federal Prospects Hockey League (FPHL) News Release
Whalers Harpoon Dashers, 4-2
After playing two games away from the Danbury Ice Arena last weekend, including a tough 2-1 overtime defeat at the hands of Danville, one had the feeling that the Whalers would come out ready to fly in this one. With a packed house on hand and a former Whalers goaltender in Nick Niedert manning the goal for Danville it would almost be impossible not to get excited about this hockey game. Ryan Patsch scored the game winning goal and Mike Brown made 27 saves as the Whalers defeated the Danville Dashers 4-2 in game 1 of a back to back weekend series.
Igor Karlov got the Whalers off to a fast start with his 1st of the season at 4:03 of the first. The Whalers had a terrific cycle going down low in the Dashers zone with Andrew Willock and Robert Vanwynsberghe. The puck ended up behind the net where Karlov wrapped it around and in past Nick Niedert who was leaning on the far post. The Dashers would tie things up at 12:46 on a powerplay goal by Brian Soskin, his 2nd. The Dashers second unit was able to get the puck to the front of the net where Soskin chipped the rebound past a sprawled out Mike Brown. The Whalers would regain the lead at 15:02 of the first on Scott Morongell's first goal of the season. Matt Caranci lead the charge up the ice and made a beautiful drop pass to Morongell who read the play perfectly jumping in on the attack. Morongell fired a shot that seemed to deflect off the Dasher's defenseman and past Niedert. Ryan Patsch would add another tally at 17:03 of the opening frame, his 2nd of the season, thanks to a little bit of luck. Connecticut native Tim Richter made a centering pass to Patsch who one-timed it in on Niedert who made the initial save. However, the rebound inadvertently bounced off a Dashers defender and into the goal.
In the second period the two teams would trade a couple of powerplay goals. Danville cashed in first as Ryan Stern deflected in his 1st of the season off a shot by Lucas Labelle from the top of the left circle. David Lun would help the Whalers regain their two goal lead with his 1st of the season at 14:39 of the second. After Jaime Zeleski went off for holding and Marcus Lyles took a four minute double minor high sticking penalty the Dashers found themselves down 5 on 3 for a full two minutes. Andrew Willock sent a pass down low to Jason Pietrasiak who centered to Lun and he buried it up over the shoulder of Niedert. The Whalers controlled mostly all of the play in the second, outshooting the Dashers 20-6.
"It was a good all around game. I thought our offense really put a lot of pressure on their defense all night. It caused a few turnovers in the neutral zone and we were able to capitalize." - Whalers head coach Phil Esposito.
The Whalers were able to control the tempo of this one almost from the outset. Their forechecking was tremendous and they shut down the neutral zone and controlled the flow of play. Even when the Dashers were able to gain the Whalers zone, they were rarely able to generate a real good scoring chance. When they did, Mike Brown was there to shut the door.
Nick Niedert, making his first start in Danbury since last season, made 47 saves in the defeat. The Dashers ended up going 2 for 6 on the power play, while the Whalers finished 1 for 5. The Whalers ended up outshooting the Dashers 51 to 29.
These two teams pick up where they left off tomorrow night in the second game of this back to back series at the Danbury Ice Arena. Puck drop is at 7:35.
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Privateers Picked up their First Victory of the Season with a 5-4 Victory over the Dayton Demonz.
Watertown opened the scoring at 4:27 of the first period with a goal by Matt Graham with assists goingto Jeff Dill and A.J. Tesoriero. The Demonz answered with the next three goals with Anthony Battaglia scoring at 9:42 assists going to Jesse Felton and Brian Marks. This was a power play score. Ahmed Mahfouz scored from Jesse Felton at 11:50, and Jared Hicks scoring from Wehebe Darge and Michael Desjarlais, all this scoring came in the first period.
The second period saw the Privateers tie the score with goals from Dane Erickson on the Powerplay to Andrew Harrison and George Nicholes.
The third period began with the scored tied at 3, however the Demonz took the lead with a shorthanded goal at 3:17, scored by Anthony Battaglia from Ahmed Mahfouz.
Trevor Jewell responded with a Powerplay goal for Watertown, assisted by Britt Ouelette and Brandon Parkhouse.
Remainder of the 3rd period saw spirited hockey from end to end, both goaltenders making key saves.
With 2:40 remaining Jeff Dill shoveled in a rebound over a sprawling Tony Tabiz assist going to JR Harris and Chris McCarthy
Shots on goal were even at 38.
Jeff Dill and Nick Williams had a spirited go in the first period, both goaltenders made key saves with Matt Athony robbing the Demonz on a handshake shot from the slot. Ahmed Mahfouz had his usual strong game, and Beni Berisha scored a pretty goal for the Privateers.
Federal Prospects Hockey League Stories from November 15, 2013
- Ice Chips - FPHL
- Whalers Home Tonight at 7:35 PM - Danbury Whalers
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