ICECAPS
St. John’s

1-4

PORTLAND
Pirates

Lineup

Forward lines and defense pairings: 

[one_half]Lessio – McCarron – Scherbak
Hudon – de la Rose – Andrighetto
Bournival – Dumont – Friberg
Scott – MacMillan – Eisenschmid [/one_half]

[one_half_last]Hanley – Lernout
Ellis – Dietz
Johnston – Didier[/one_half_last]

Goaltenders:

Fucale
Pasquale

Scratches: Jeremy Gregoire, Mac Bennett, Bud Holloway (undisclosed), Victor Bartley (undisclosed)
Injured reserve: Connor Crisp (undisclosed)

Game Report

The season series against the Portland Pirates hasn’t been pretty for the IceCaps.  After dropping the first two games in St. John’s, the IceCaps needed to come into Cross Insurance Arena strong and confident.  They looked like neither of those things right from the start.

The Pirates poured on the offensive pressure early, forcing netminder Zach Fucale to be sharp early.  The puck traveled back and forth down the sheet fairly evenly throughout the first period, until MacKenzie Weeger found the back of the net to put Portland on the board.

Rocco Grimaldi gave the home team a two-goal lead early in the second, but then the IceCaps seemed to find some much-needed energy.  Lucas Lessio drove to the net hard on multiple shifts during the game and had quite a few good chances, but goaltender Mike McKenna stood tall.

Nikita Scherbak saved the IceCaps from a shutout loss by potting his third goal of the season, assisted by Charles Hudon and Sven Andrighetto.  Discipline came completely unraveled in this game with the IceCaps taking eight minor penalties, two of which came from John Scott.

The IceCaps return to the ice on Friday night when they take on the Portland Pirates once more in this back-to-back series.

▲     Nikita Scherbak

▼     John Scott

1. John McFarland   POR
2. Mike McKenna  POR
3. MacKenzie Weeger  POR

Quotes and audio courtesy of Rocket Sports Media

It's @JDidier4 turn in the penalty box – gets called for tripping. Very undisciplined #IceCaps team tonight. Down 3-0 in 3rd. @IceCapsReport

— Amy Johnson (@FlyersRule) January 28, 2016

Have to say that Jeremy Gregoire should be in the lineup tonight over John Scott. Taking bad penalties, not much else. @IceCapsReport

— Amy Johnson (@FlyersRule) January 28, 2016

The #IceCaps will face goaltender Mike McKenna in Portland tonight. McKenna is 19-8-1 this season. @IceCapsReport https://t.co/iZrM6sNKdn

— Amy Johnson (@FlyersRule) January 27, 2016

Follow @IceCapsReport on Twitter