Lineup
Forward lines and defense pairings:
[one_half]Carr – McCarron – Thomas
Andrighetto – Hudon – Holloway
De la Rose – Dumont – Gregoire
McNally – Eisenschmid – Fournier[/one_half]
[one_half_last]Barberio – Pateryn
Ellis – Dietz
Hanley – Lernout[/one_half_last]
Goaltenders:
Fucale
Pasquale
Scratches: Josiah Didier, Dalton Thrower, Mac Bennett, Ryan Johnston (hernia), Mark MacMillan, Nikita Scherbak (undisclosed), Connor Crisp, Tim Bozon (shoulder)
Injured reserve:
Game Report
The IceCaps were facing one of the top teams in the AHL early this season. Coming into the game, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins had lost just once, to go along with their seven wins. After a strong start, St. John’s struggled at times to put together a sixty-minute game on the road trip.
On Wednesday night, the first period was played rather evenly. Shots on goal were 12-10 by the IceCaps with each team scoring once. Mike McCarron picked up his team leading sixth goal on the power-play.
Skipping ahead to the third period, the IceCaps were dominant, particularly the line of Daniel Carr – Mike McCarron – Christian Thomas who had 13 shots combined. St. John’s outshot the Penguins 21-5.
So that leaves the second period. The IceCaps finished the second frame well but in the first four minutes, Zach Fucale gave up three goals on three shots. It’s fair to say that Fucale would have liked two of the goals back.
At the 3:29 mark of the first period Sylvain Lefebvre made a change sending in backup Eddie Pasquale to relieve Fucale. In just over 23 minutes of work, Fucale gave up four goals on 13 shots.
The IceCaps are a young, speedy, talented team. But they have been prone to mistakes and mental lapses. And on this road trip, they have proven to be costly.
Greg Pateryn has joined the IceCaps for a two-week conditioning stint. Pateryn was on the ice for three of the Penguins goals finishing the game at minus-2. On the first Wilkes-Barre/Scranton goal, Pateryn may have been guilty of trying to do too much. But he was physical and moved the puck well.
The IceCaps face the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins once again on Friday with the finale to the road trip coming on Saturday against the Hershey Bears.
▲ Mike McCarron, Daniel Carr, Christian Thomas, Brett Lernout, Bud Holloway, Jacob De La Rose, Jeremy Gregoire
▼ Zach Fucale |