IceCaps Stun Marlies in Wild Overtime Thriller

December 13, 2014 - American Hockey League (AHL)
St. John's IceCaps News Release


Eric O'Dell notched a hat trick and added an assist and Mike Cornell scored the overtime winner as the St. John's IceCaps emerged with a 6-5 overtime victory over the Toronto Marlies at Ricoh Coliseum in Toronto on Saturday afternoon.

Kyle MacKinnon recorded three assists and Carl Klingberg added a goal and an assist as the IceCaps pushed their 2014-15 record against the Marlies to 3-0.

The IceCaps opened the scoring early in the first frame. Julian Melchiori made a nice move at the blue line before putting the puck on net and Eric O'Dell was there to swat home the rebound past Marlies goaltender Christopher Gibson just 7:01 into the game.

The Marlies tied the game just over two minutes later as Connor Brown cut down the right wing and fired a tight-angle shot that beat IceCaps starter Connor Hellebuyck high on the glove side for a power play goal with 9:20 remaining in the period.

St. John's grabbed the 2-1 lead before the end of the first as O'Dell made a great play behind the Marlies net to find Klingberg in front. He snapped a quick one-timer that eluded Gibson with 7:27 left in the period.

The Marlies hit the ground running in the second period as Brown notched his second of the game just nine seconds into the frame, collecting the puck behind the IceCaps net and banking it in off of Hellebuyck's pad to tie the game at two.

Toronto surged ahead to take the lead less than two minutes later as Ryan Rupert located the puck in the circle to the right of Hellebuyck and quickly turned and fired to beat the goaltender on the glove side with 18:05 left in the period.

The high-scoring play continued less than a minute later as O'Dell notched his second of the game just 38 seconds later. Lying on the ice, O'Dell banged home an airborn puck that was hopping around in the crease in front of Gibson.

Sam Carrick gave the Marlies the 4-3 lead with 11:32 remaining in the period on a 5-on-3 power play as he executed a tight spin move to the right of Hellebuyck and roofed the puck to give Toronto its second lead of the game.

The IceCaps managed to tie the game before the end of the period as Jason Jaffray took a Ryan Olsen pass from behind the net and sent a quick shot behind Gibson for his first goal of the year with 1:50 remaining, finishing off a wild second period during which the teams combined for five goals.

The Marlies took the lead with 12:28 left in the contest as Matt Frattin carried the puck into the IceCaps zone and sent a laser of a snap shot over Hellebuyck's blocker to give Toronto a 5-4 lead.

Just as it appeared as if the Marlies would hold on for the win, O'Dell completed the hat trick with 30 seconds remaining and the goaltender pulled. He sent a sharp wrist shot under the bar on the left side for his third of the game, forcing overtime for the tenth time this season.

Cornell was the hero in the extra frame as his first IceCaps goal was the game-winner. He sent a wrist shot from the point on net that eluded Gibson through the five hole for a power play goal just 1:21 into overtime.

The IceCaps will face the Marlies again tomorrow, Sunday, Dec. 14 at 4:30 p.m. NST at Ricoh Coliseum. Catch all the action with broadcaster Brian Rogers at www.stjohnsicecaps.com and 930 AM This is Newfoundland Labrador, or watch online at www.ahllive.com. Pregame show begins a half hour before puck drop.

Notes: Not dressed: Keaton Ellerby, Brandon MacLean, Blair Riley, Patrick Holland, Nicolas Blanchard, Will O'Neill... St. John's went 1-for-3 with the man advantage and 1-for-3 on the penalty kill... The IceCaps were outshot 36-34. They have now been outshot in five consecutive contests... Defenceman Ralfs Freibergs made his AHL debut... O'Dell tied an IceCaps franchise record for points in a game with four, and his hat trick was the fourth of his career and ninth in team history... Molson Canadian Three Stars: 1. Eric O'Dell 2. Mike Cornell 3. Connor Brown ... Mary Brown's Hardest Working Player: Jason Jaffray.



American Hockey League Stories from December 13, 2014


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