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IceCaps Win Wild One over Wolf Pack

February 11, 2015 - American Hockey League (AHL)
St. John's IceCaps News Release


The St. John's IceCaps overcame a two-goal third period deficit and survived a penalty shot attempt in overtime to steal a 5-4 shootout victory from the Hartford Wolf Pack at Mile One Centre on Wednesday night.

Will O'Neill registered three assists, Kyle MacKinnon notched a pair of his own and JC Lipon scored the shootout winner as the IceCaps have now collected three consecutive victories. John Albert added a goal and an assist.

Brenden Kichton got the scoring started in the first period as he located the puck in front of the net after an O'Neill point shot was stopped in front of Wolf Pack starter Yann Danis. Kichton was the first to spot the puck and slid it underneath Danis at 9:02.

The Wolf Pack would have the last laugh heading into the first intermission as Chris Mueller and Ryan Haggerty each potted goals 32 seconds apart with just over six minutes remaining in the period to take the 2-1 lead into the second.

Hartford would add to the lead on the power play at 12:12 of the second. With a pair of IceCaps defenders left without a stick in their hands and pinned in their own zone, Ryan Bourque made them pay with a perfect snap shot from close range that beat IceCaps starter Connor Hellebuyck.

John Albert would make it a 3-2 game just over two minutes later as he took a perfect Chase Balisy drop pass in tight to the net and lifted a quick wrist shot into the net on the short side for his 13th goal of the season.

Hartford pushed the lead back to two 10:18 into the final period as Justin Vaive placed a perfect odd-man rush deflection high over Hellebuyck's glove hand off a shot from Oscar Lindberg.

Scott Kosmachuk kept the game interesting with a power play goal less than two minutes later. With Danis down and out in his goal crease, Albert failed to jump on the loose puck sitting unattended in the crease but Kosmachuk rushed in from the point to stuff it home and cut the lead to one with just over seven minutes remaining.

Blair Riley tied the game with his second goal in as many games with just 4:25 remaining in the game. O'Neill blasted a shot from the point and Riley was able to get a piece of it and sent the puck behind Danis and into the net, forcing the game into overtime.

The Wolf Pack had the best chance to end the game in overtime as Haggerty was hauled down on a breakaway at 3:29 of the extra frame. Hellebuyck was quick with the pad and made the save, keeping the IceCaps comeback bid intact.

Overtime solved nothing, forcing the game into a shootout. MacKinnon was the first shooter and fired a shot off the post and into the cage. Danny Kristo matched MacKinnon's tally, giving Lipon a chance to take the lead. He made an excellent head fake and roofed a backhand shot behind Danis for the shootout lead.

Chris Bourque was stopped by Hellebuyck before Albert was stymied at the other end by Danis.

Mueller was unable to beat Hellebuyck with the Wolf Pack's third shot, giving the IceCaps the victory and the extra point.

The IceCaps and Wolf Pack have now concluded their season series, with the IceCaps coming away with wins in three of the four games played. The IceCaps will return to action at Mile One Centre on Valentine's Day, Saturday, February 14th at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are on sale now at the Mile One Box Office, by phone at (709) 576-7657 or www.mileonecentre.com. Catch all the action with broadcaster Brian Rogers at www.stjohnsicecaps.com, 930AM and www.ahllive.com.

Notes | Not dressed: Jordan Hill, Eric O'Dell, Jason Jaffray, Ben Walker, Ryan Parent, Peter Budaj... St. John's went 2-for-6 on the power play and 5-for-7 on the penalty kill... The IceCaps have now scored a power play goal in eight consecutive games... St. John's outshot Hartford 35-29... With the victory, Connor Hellebuyck is now tied for the AHL lead in wins with 22... Molson Canadian Three Stars: 1. Will O'Neill. 2. Chris Bourque 3. John Albert ... IceCaps Hardest Working Player: Keaton Ellerby.

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