The St. John’s IceCaps continued their home stand with back-to-back victories over the Utica Comets. On Tuesday, in front of the smallest crowd in franchise history, the IceCaps edged the Comets 4-3 in overtime.
It took just three minutes for Nikita Scherbak to open the scoring. The Russian winger beat Thatcher Demko with a laser beam from the face-off circle to put the IceCaps up 1-0.
In the second, Utica captain, Carter Banks, banged home a rebound to tie the game at 1-1. The third period was a little more exciting. Daniel Carr opened his AHL goal scoring account to put the IceCaps in front.
They weren’t done there. Nikita Scherbak sniped his fourth of the year over the shoulder of Demko, putting the home team up 3-1.
The game was far from over, however. Phil DeSimone and Darren Archibald scored scored less than three minutes apart to bring the Comets level and send the game to overtime.
In the extra frame, Mark Barberio turned the puck over in the offensive end, resulting in a 2-on-1 for the Comets. IceCaps forward, Chris Terry, made a fantastic defensive play to prevent a goal, and then found himself on a 2-on-1 rush with Barberio. Terry slid the puck to the IceCaps defenseman, who’s one-timer beat Demko, giving the IceCaps the 4-3 win.
Goaltenders:
STJ: Lindgren – W (30/33)
UTI: Demko – OTL (21/25)
Three Stars:
- Mark Barberio STJ (GWG)
2. Nikita Scherbak STJ (2 G)
3. Jordan Subban UTI (2 A, +2)
Full Game Highlights:
Game #2
On Wednesday night at Mile One Centre, in front of a crowd that looked to break Tuesday’s record as the worst in franchise history, the IceCaps beat Utica 6-3.
Charles Hudon opened the scoring for St. John’s just two minutes into the first period. After receiving a stretch pass from Philip Samuelsson, the speedy forward buried a wrist shot past Comets starter, Richard Bachman.
Joseph LeBate tied things up midway through the first after finishing a great pass from Michael Chaput. The IceCaps would retake the lead through Nikita Scherbak, who brought his goal scoring streak to four games when he showed off his smooth hands to beat Bachman.
In the second period, it was Scherbak again causing trouble for Utica. After a great play down low, the sophomore fed the puck in front to Hudon, who made a nifty little move to beat Bachman, and extend the lead to 3-1.
Alexandre Grenier and Michael Chaput both beat IceCaps goalie, Charlie Lindgren, to tie things back up at 3-3.
The third period was all St. John’s.
First, veteran forward, Bobby Farnham, knocked home his second off the season of a rebound from a Brett Lernout point shot.
A minute later. Sven Andrighetto fed Daniel Carr on a 2-on-1. Carr made no mistake, making it back to back games with a goal for the NHL-calibre forward.
Stefan Matteau put the final nail in the coffin with an empty net marker with just eight seconds remaining. 6-3 IceCaps. The goal was his second off the season.
Goaltenders:
STJ: Lindgren – W (30/33)
UTI: Bachman – L (18/23)
Three Stars:
- Charles Hudon STJ (2 G)
- Michael Chaput UTI (1 G, 2 A)
- Nikita Scherbak STJ (1 G, 1 A)
Full Game Highlights:
With the two wins the IceCaps now sport a 5-4-1 record through 10 games. They’re back in action this weekend, when they play host to the Toronto Marlies on Saturday and Sunday.
