The IceCaps picked up just one point against the Albany Devils on Saturday night, in a heartbreaking 5-4 OT loss, causing them to slip to fifth place in the North Division.
Tuesday night against their divisional opponents, the Binghamton Senators, every point counted. The IceCaps needed a confidence booster after losing five out of six meetings with the Senators.
Both Nikita Scherbak and Bud Holloway came into the game riding a point streak. Scherbak with a five-game streak (1G, 6A) and Holloway with four (2G, 2A).
Last night’s game marked the return of Morgan Ellis from his stint with the Montreal Canadiens.
The IceCaps came out focused and extremely organized, doing a fantastic job keeping the pressure off their netminder, Eddie Pasquale and on the Senators, Matt O’Connor instead.
Just 39 seconds into the opening period, Max Friberg sneaked one past the blue paint with the help of Gabriel Dumont and Darren Dietz. Not long after, Dumont caught a sweet turnover and led a team rush down the ice but couldn’t find the back of the net.
But never fear, Shane Bakker who was ready to score his first AHL goal and with the help of John Scott and Andrew Yogan, did just that at 7:24. The IceCaps had total control of the first period. It looked like the Senators were about to score on a wide open net until Pasquale made an impressive dive to block the shot. Instead, Dumont scored his 16th goal of the season with just 42 seconds left to the period.
The IceCaps headed into the second period with a three-goal lead and double the shots on goal (18-9). Dumont seemed to be everywhere you looked. With good reason. He had a three point night (1G, 3A) and earned himself first star.
Ellis took a big hit behind the net early in the period causing Bakker to step in and be awarded the first penalty of the night. Five for fighting made it four-on-four and resulted in a 3-1 score.
During the IceCaps second power play of the night, Hudon potted a goal, breaking his record with a new career high of 20 goals. Holloway picked up the assist, bumping himself over the 50-point mark, and extending his point streak to five games. Pasquale made a beautiful save during the IceCaps power-kill but just eight seconds later, the puck slide past him to end the period 4-2.
The IceCaps didn’t take their foot off the gas during the third period, playing hard and out-shooting the Sens 41-26 before the final frame. Pasquale got his third straight win, stopping 24 of the 26 shots he faced to help the IceCaps finally get a well deserved victory over the Senators.
With the win and much needed two points, the IceCaps will be looking to collect more during the final meeting between the two teams for the season, which takes place tonight.
