Whalers Take Commanding Lead by Defeating Demonz, 6-5
April 6, 2014 - Federal Prospects Hockey League (FPHL)
Danbury Whalers News Release
Danbury CT- One night after coming away victorious in game 1 one of the Commissioners Cup Finals, the Danbury Whalers knew they had to keep the pressure on the visiting Dayton Demonz in order to take a commanding 2-0 lead in the series and find themselves on the cusp of their second straight Championship crown. James Sanford had a goal and three assists and Mike Brown made 33 saves as the Whalers were able to hang on and win game 2 Sunday night 6-5.
The Whalers got the scoring started in the first period on the 1st goal of the playoffs for Garrett Peters. David Lun gathered the loose puck near the side of the Dayton cage and made a pretty centering pass to a waiting Peters who one-timed the shot past Demonz goaltender Jeff Rose for the early 1-0 lead. The Demonz answered back at the 10:24 mark of the first on a very controversial and confusing play in the Whalers zone. The play started in the near corner of the Whalers zone where Roger Tagoon came in and laid a hit on Ryan Patsch. The arm of referee Keith Fallon immediately went up to signal a penalty and Whalers goalie Mike Brown took off for the bench to gain the extra attacker. However, the delayed penalty was in fact on the Whalers and the Demonz were able to take advantage and tie the game. Jared Hicks sent the puck toward the empty cage where Wehebe Darge was waiting to tap it home to knot the game at one apiece. Danbury outshot the Demonz 16-13 after one period of play.
The two teams continued to trade goals in the second period, as James Sanford connected on his 1st of the playoffs to give the Whalers the 2-1 lead. Right off the faceoff in the Dayton zone, Sanford corralled the puck and took the quick shot on goal which beat Rose to the five hole. At 11:33 of the middle frame, Roger Tagoona would tie the game up at two on his 1st of the playoffs. Casey Mignone made a nifty pass to a wide open Tagoona in the slot, who made a pretty move around a sprawling Mike Brown and put it home to make it 2-2. The game stayed that way until 1:44 of the second period when the Whalers scored three unanswered goals. First it was Co-MVP Cody Ayers redirecting home his 1st of the playoffs on a pass in front from James Sanford to make it 3-2. Then at 19:28, after a Tagoona cross checking penalty, Steve Brown made it 4-2 on the power play, his 1st of the playoffs. Connecticut native Tim Richter took the initial shot towards the goal where Brown was able to redirect it behind Rose. The Whalers weren't done yet, as just twenty-six seconds later Ilya Solarev joined the scoring party with his 1st of the playoffs. The Russian native carried the puck to the top of the left circle and unleashed an absolute missile over the shoulder of Jeff Rose to make it 5-2.
In the third period it was Brett Wall bringing the Demonz closer with his 1st of the playoffs, redirecting a shot off the stick of Casey Mignone up over the right shoulder of Mike Brown. Ryan Patsch continued his hot scoring at the 7:47 mark, unleashing a quick wrist shot on the short side past the glove of Rose to give the Whalers the three goal lead again. The Demonz kept fighting though, as Joe Pace would make it a two goal hockey game once again at the 10:43 mark. Pace leaned into the loose puck at the blue line and blasted the shot past Brown. Ahmed Mahfouz made it a one goal game at 11:35 on the power play, his 7th goal of the playoffs. The Co-MVP carried the puck to crease and tucked the puck under the legs of Brown to make it 6-5. That's as close as the Demonz would get as the Whalers were able to withstand a late 6 on 4 Dayton advantage and take a commanding 2-0 series lead.
Game Notes: Jeff Rose made 38 saves in the loss for Dayton...Danbury outshot the Demonz 44-38...Dayton finished 1 for 3 on the power play, while Danbury was 1 for 5... Game 3 is Saturday, April 12th at the Hara Arena in Dayton, Ohio.
3 Stars:
1.) James Sanford
2.) Ryan Patsch
3.) Brett Wall
Upcoming Games & Events
FHL Commissioner's Cup Championship Finals
Game 3 - Saturday, April 12 - Danbury at Dayton - 7:35 ET
* Game 4 - Sunday, April 13 - Danbury at Dayton - 5:05 ET
* Game 5 - Tuesday, April 15 - Dayton at Danbury - 7:35 ET
Danbury leads Best of Five Finals - 2-0
* if necessary
Federal Prospects Hockey League Stories from April 6, 2014
- Whalers Take Commanding Lead by Defeating Demonz, 6-5 - Danbury Whalers
- Finals Game 2 Sunday - Danbury Whalers
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