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IceCaps Bust out with 6-5 Win over Senators

October 21, 2014 - American Hockey League (AHL)
St. John's IceCaps News Release


The St. John's IceCaps shook off the rust in a big way and ended a three-game winless skid as they topped the Binghamton Senators 6-5 at Mile One Centre on Tuesday night.

Chase Balisy, John Albert and Carl Klingberg each had a goal and two assists and Kris Fredheim added a goal and an assist to give the IceCaps their biggest offensive output of the young 2014-15 season.

Balisy's goal was the first of his professional career and ten different IceCaps each recorded a point to lead St. John's to victory.

The IceCaps were the first to find the back of the net and they did so in in bizarre fashion. Just 1:24 into the opening frame, Klingberg crossed centre ice and innocently flipped a backhand shot on the Binghamton net as he went off the ice for a line change. The puck bounced its way into the crease and past the pad of Senators goaltender Andrew Hammond, fooling the keeper for the game's opening goal.

St. John's kept the momentum going and pushed their lead to two just over four minutes later. With Scott Kosmachuk in the penalty box for hooking, Balisy forced a turnover in the IceCaps defensive zone and sent Patrice Cormier in alone on Hammond and he made no mistake to earn his first tally of the season, beating the goaltender blocker side, giving Balisy his first professional point with the assist.

The Senators fought back early in the second period. Just under four minutes into the frame, Senators defenceman Chris Wideman sent a seeing-eye wrist shot into the top corner from the right point, beating IceCaps starter Connor Hellebuyck at 3:59.

The IceCaps restored their two goal lead just 44 seconds later as Blair Riley stripped a defender of the puck behind the Senators net and dished a perfect backhand pass into the slot and onto the stick of Balisy, who snapped home his first professional goal at 4:43.

The Senators fought back and quickly cut the deficit back to one as Derek Grant fought off several defenders and received a perfect pass in the high slot from Patrick Mullen and whipped a quick one-timer behind Hellebuyck at 5:32.

The Senators maintained the pressure and tied the contest less than four minutes later. Garrett Thompson took a pass near centre ice and entered the IceCaps zone with speed. He slid between the pair of IceCaps defencemen and came in tight on Hellebuyck on a partial breakaway, slipping one behind the rookie netminder low on the glove side with 11:05 remaining in the second frame to tie the game at three.

The IceCaps quickly stormed back to take the lead in the topsy-turvy second period as Eric O'Dell found the puck behind the net and sent it out front to a waiting Fredheim, who beat Hammond for his first of the year to give the IceCaps the lead once again.

They padded their lead before the end of the second period as Balisy claimed a loose puck behind the net and found Albert in the slot with a backhand pass. Albert beat Hammond with a quick release to give the IceCaps a two-goal lead heading into the final 20 minutes.

The IceCaps made it a three-goal game as Albert passed the puck from the left corner and found a streaking Brenden Kichton coming in hot from the point. He let go a quick one-timer that beat Hammond and ended his night at 3:13 of the third period.

Scott Greenham took over in goal for the Senators after the Kichton goal and did not allow a goal in 16:30 of relief.

The crowd at Mile One Centre collectively held its breath in the dying moments of the game as the Senators stormed back and attempted a comeback. Buddy Robinson and Cole Schneider found the net 3:38 apart in the game's final five minutes, but they ran out of time and gave the IceCaps their first victory since Oct. 10.

Hellebuyck earned the second victory of his professional career with a 29-save night, while Senators' starter Hammond allowed six goals on 26 shots and suffered the loss.

The IceCaps continue their six-game homestand tomorrow, Wednesday, October 22 as they finish their two-game set against the Binghamton Senators. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Catch all the action with broadcaster Brian Rogers at www.stjohnicecaps.com and 930AM, or watch live on Rogers TV and AHL Live. Pregame show gets underway at 7:00.

Notes: Not dressed for St. John's: Jason Jaffray, Jordan Hill, Patrick Holland, Brandon MacLean, Nicolas Blanchard, Julien Brouillette ... St. John's and Binghamton tied 34-34 on the shot clock... The IceCaps finished the game 3-for-3 on the penalty kill and 0-for-2 on the power play... Molson Canadian Three Stars: 1. Chase Balisy 2. Carl Klingberg 3. John Albert ... Mary Brown's Hardest Working Player: Kris Fredheim.

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