ICECAPS
St. John’s

1-2

PENGUINS
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton

Lineup

Forward lines and defense pairings: 

[one_half]Hudon – McCarron – Holloway
Bournival – De la Rose – Dumont
Lessio – Eisenschmid – Friberg
Gregoire – MacMillan – Fournier[/one_half]

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

Goaltenders:

Fucale
Pasquale

Scratches: Eric Neilson, Brandon McNally, Connor Crisp (undisclosed), Nikita Scherbak (undisclosed)
Injured reserve: Ryan Johnston (back surgery)

Game Report

After a dismal weekend series against the Portland Pirates, the IceCaps came out in full force for tonight’s tilt with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.  Captain Gabriel Dumont made a statement 21 seconds into the game by burying the first shot on goal past Matt Murray.

The first period went mostly in St. John’s favor, with the team staying disciplined and dominating in the offensive zone.  Passes were clean, and the team skated hard.  The IceCaps outshot the Penguins 13-8 in the opening frame, but as the period wound down the Penguins started to gain some energy.

In the second period, it was all Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.  Physicality picked up, with two fights and multiple hard hits, and it seemed the Penguins drained the energy out of the IceCaps.  Giving up a power play goal midway through the period compounded the home team’s frustration.

Despite having five opportunities on the man advantage the IceCaps power play unit couldn’t convert, showing continued signs of struggle.  St. John’s tried to get things back to even late in the third but it was too little, too late.  They have yet to notch a win on this homestand, and will face the Penguins again tomorrow night.

The second line of Michael Bournival, Jacob de la Rose, and Gabriel Dumont were the best on the ice tonight, creating chances and maintaining pressure.  The new third line of Lucas Lessio, Markus Eisenschmid, and Max Friberg was an interesting combination which could potentially heat up if left to build chemistry.

▲      Lucas Lessio, Zach Fucale, Jacob de la Rose

▼      Joel Hanley, Josiah Didier

1. Matt Murray  WBS
2. Gabriel Dumont  STJ
3. Conor Sheary  WBS

Quotes and audio courtesy of Rocket Sports Media

.@Sfournier74 knows how to lay down the hurt. O'Neill gets pounded after taking exception to Fournier's hit on Seymour. @IceCapsReport

— Amy (@FlyersRule) January 13, 2016

BOOM! The gloves drop between Mac Bennett and Scott Wilson. Bennett gets some solid shots in. #IceCaps @IceCapsReport

— Amy (@FlyersRule) January 13, 2016

Big game tonight for the #IceCaps vs dominant @WBSPenguins – after dropping 2 vs Portland this weekend and Marlies up next. @IceCapsReport

— Amy (@FlyersRule) January 12, 2016

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