Ice Holds off Team USA 5-4
February 23, 2014 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Indiana Ice News Release
A "laugher" became a "nail biter" Sunday afternoon when the Indiana Ice took a 5-1 lead late into the second period against Team USA U-18 at Pan Am Pavillion. They hung on for dear life and salvaged a 5-4 victory.
The National Team Developmental Program potted a trio of goals including a score with 10 seconds remaining to narrow the lead to a single tally with their goaltender removed in lieu of an extra forward.
So dominant was the Red, White, and Blue squad that they had the last 15 shots on goal in the contest after Indiana dominated for the first 40 minutes.
It looked like smooth sailing after the hosts potted a trio of goals in the first 5:32 of the matchup. Jacob Pritchard got the ball rolling when he planted home a rebound of Aidan Muir's shot just 22 seconds after the opening puck drop. Brian Pinho also assisted and became one of 12 Ice players to record a point in the matinee.
The Icemen scored on two of their first three shots after Matt Roy's wrist shot handcuffed the U-18's goaltender Blake Weyrick. Pritchard and Pinho enjoyed their second points of the game at the 2:18 mark. That score sent Weyrick to the bench and Edwin Minney into a relief role in net.
Minney, who was the winning netminder in Saturday's 4-1 victory over Indy, fared no better after Tyler Pham forced a turnover and fed Tyler Andrew. Andrew buried a shot at 5:32 to notch his third goal in as many games to give Indiana a 3-0 lead.
The teams traded a pair of second period goals as the Ice skated to the second intermission still holding a three-goal advantage at 5-2.
Dwyer Tschantz gave Indiana their largest lead at 4-0 when has drag move gave him a shooting lane at 3:42 of the second. Tschantz found net after receiving a scoring pass from Vince Pedrie. The visitors followed with a power play goal at 7:56 and notched their second of the middle frame with 50 seconds remaining.
Denis Smirnov sandwiched a lamplighter between the Team USA goals. Scott Conway and Patrick Newell collaborated on the power play goal with 2:51 remaining in the period.
The Ice did not score again and the U18's mounted a comeback in the final 20 minutes. Jack Eichel scored both the visitor's goals---once on the power play at 10:19 and again 10 seconds before the final horn.
United States Hockey League Stories from February 23, 2014
- Lancers Fall to Bucs in Shootout, 2-1 - Omaha Lancers
- DeAugustine, Connor Propel Phantoms Past Steel in Overtime - Youngstown Phantoms
- Steel Suffer Overtime Loss To Youngstown - Chicago Steel
- Ice Holds off Team USA 5-4 - Indiana Ice
- Saints Get Back on Track, Top Roughriders 5-2 Saturday - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Chicago Cuts Down Muskegon with Big Third Period - Muskegon Lumberjacks
- Rutledge Leads Gamblers Past Phantoms - Youngstown Phantoms
- Stars Outlast Storm in Front of Sold out Crowd - Tri-City Storm
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