Power play lifts Chops past Bulldogs, 3-2
January 3, 2009 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Iowa Chops News Release
The Iowa Chops gave up only 19 shots and scored three power play goals on Saturday night in Hamilton, which included a Matt Beleskey power play goal with :36 seconds remaining in the game, as the Chops defeated the Bulldogs 3-2. The Chops game the game off on the right foot, taking advantage of their first power play of the night as Matt Caruana scored his second goal of the season off a loose rebound in front. The power play goal broke an 0 for 18 slump for the Chops and gave them a 1-0 lead to start a game for the first time in three games. Ryan Dingle and Brian Salcido assisted on the power play goal. The Bulldogs would answer while the Chops were on their second power play as a 2 on 1 led to a backdoor pass from David Desharnais to Olivier Latendresse, put the puck over the shoulder of Chops goaltender JP Levasseur to tie the game at 1-1 on the shorthanded goal. The Chops applied plenty of pressure in the period, outshooting Hamilton 11-4 in the opening frame, but the score remained tied after one period. The Chops dominated play in the 2nd period, helped by several more power play chances. The Chops would regain the lead three and a half minutes into the period as on the power play, Brian Salcido showed great patience from the point and sent a wrist shot off the post and in behind Hamilton goaltender Loic Lacasse for a 2-1 lead. Petteri Wirtanen and Matt Beleskey assisted on the goal. The remainder of the period was all Chops, as they outshot Hamilton 13-6 in the period and took a 2-1 lead into the lockerroom. Brennan Evans hit the post in the period and had a chance as time ran out that went just wide as momentum continued the Chops way. The 3rd period was a back and forth affair that saw the Bulldogs tie the game at 2-2 as defenseman Frederic St-Denis crept in from the point and fired home a one-timer past Levasseur. The Chops benefitted from more power play time at the end of regulation as Hamilton was whistled for two back-to-back delay of game penalties that gave the Chops a 5 on 3 with a minute to go. After Josh Green was waived out of an offensive zone face-off, Eric Boguniecki stepped in and won the draw to Matt Beleskey in the high slot and Beleskey's wrist shot beat Lacasse to the blocker side for a 3-2 lead with :36 seconds to go in the game and the eventual game-winning goal. With the 3-2 win, the Chops snapped their three-game winless streak and won their 19th game of the season. The Chops finished their stretch of five road games in six nights this week with a 2-2-1 record.
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