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 |