Lineup
Forward lines and defense pairings:
[one_half]Lessio – McCarron – Scherbak
Andrighetto – Hudon – Carr
Bournival – Dumont – Friberg
Scott – MacMillan – Eisenschmid [/one_half]
[one_half_last]Bartley – Lernout
Hanley – Ellis
Johnston – Dietz[/one_half_last]
Goaltenders:
Fucale
Pasquale
Scratches: Josiah Didier, Dalton Thrower, Mac Bennett, Jeremy Gregoire, Bud Holloway (day-to-day)
Injured reserve: Connor Crisp – undisclosed (indefinite)
Game Report
It would have been understandable if the IceCaps began the game a little lethargically. It was the first game of a six-game road trip ahead of the All-Star break. The team had bused in from Boston following their flight from St. John’s. And there was a distinct lack of energy in a building where the fans numbered in the hundreds, not thousands.
But to their credit, the IceCaps came out of the gate skating. That said, it was a little like a first date: plenty of enthusiasm but not really in sync. Given all the recent changes to the roster, it probably shouldn’t have come as a surprise.
The lack of chemistry showed as linemates made poor decisions in their passing choices and shot selection.
Two players made their IceCaps debuts: defenceman Victor Bartley and the now infamous John Scott, both part of the Jarred Tinordi trade. Bartley was reassigned from the parent club on Wednesday after watching from the press box. Scott was only too happy to get back on the ice after taking a barrage of questions about the All-Star weekend.
Bartley looked nervous to start but otherwise moved the puck well. His first game was cut short by an injury that occurred in the second period. Scott had a couple of hits and drew a penalty in his infrequent shifts but otherwise had an unremarkable game.
As has been the case throughout the season, IceCaps were let down by goaltending and their power-play. And the St. John’s penalty-killers allowed a goal to the worst power-play in the league.
The bottom line is that the IceCaps did not get the save that they needed with 20.1 seconds remaining in overtime.
The IceCaps now hit the road for a six-game trip before the All-Star break, beginning with a tilt against the Bridgeport Sound Tigers on Wednesday.
▲ Max Friburg, Ryan Johnston, Gabriel Dumont, Michael Bournival, Darren Dietz
▼ Nikita Scherbak, Zach Fucale |