Game one: Saturday, April 9
Saturday night’s game marked the professional debuts for three players (Daniel Audette, Jeremiah Addison, and Simon Bourque), who recently finished their seasons in the CHL. The IceCaps also had forwards Jacob de la Rose and Michael McCarron back in the lineup, both recently sent down from the Montreal Canadiens.
In the first period, netminders, Zach Fucale (St. John’s) and Joe Cannata (Utica) kept the contest scoreless.
It wasn’t until midway through the second period when the deadlock was finally broken. Addison, a 19 year-old, seventh-round pick in last years entry draft, centred the puck to Jeremy Gregoire, who slid it past Cannata and gave the IceCaps the lead.
#IceCaps 1-0 goal. Jeremiah Addison with a great play here on Jeremy Gregoire’s goal for his first pro point. pic.twitter.com/zc7KbBYqd8
— Mitch Brown (@MitchLBrown) April 9, 2016
Wacey Hamilton tied the game at one with a shorthanded goal in the third, but St. John’s quickly restored their lead when de la Rose fired a one-timer top shelf on the power play. Gabriel Dumont and Bourque picked up assists on the goal.
#IceCaps 2-1 goal. Simon Bourque starts it, Jacob de la Rose finishes. Daniel Audette with some work in front. pic.twitter.com/SJA7yrno7J
— Mitch Brown (@MitchLBrown) April 10, 2016
With just over three minutes remaining, Taylor Fedun fired home a power play goal of his own, to tie the game back up at two. With the game headed to overtime, Utica officially clinched a playoff birth, after only needing a single point. But there was still hockey to play.
At 2:26 of the extra frame, Morgan Ellis fired home a one-timer off a feed from Bud Holloway, thereby giving the IceCaps the win.
Goaltenders:
St. John’s: Zachary Fucale (W) 47/49
Utica: Joe Cannata (OTL) 26/29
Three stars:
1. Zachary Fucale
2. Morgan Ellis (Goal, +1)
3. Jeremy Gregoire (Goal, +1)
Game two: Sunday, April 10:
In the second of back-to-back games, Eddie Pasquale got the start for the IceCaps, who once again received reinforcements from the Habs. Defencemen Darren Dietz, Joel Hanley, and Ryan Johnston all returned to the IceCaps lineup.
And they picked up right where they left off. 1:16 into the game, it was Dumont to de la Rose yet again, as the Swede fired home a one-timer past Richard Bachman.
#IceCaps up 1-0 early thanks to a rocket by Jacob de la Rose! pic.twitter.com/dQmhRD6Uya
— Mitch Brown (@MitchLBrown) April 10, 2016
Three minutes later, Morgan Ellis scored his 16th of the season off a pass from Bud Holloway. The assist tied Holloway with former IceCaps captain, Jason Jaffray, as the Franchise single-season points leader with 59.
Less than 10 minutes later, Holloway broke the record, picking up and assist on Michael McCarron’s 16th of the season. The other assist went to recently signed Tom Parisi, making it the first point of his professional career.
The onslaught didn’t stop in the second. Just over a minute into the period, Tim Bozon fired home his fourth of the year. Another minute later, Nikita Scherbak found the net by finishing off a beautiful pass from Charles Hudon.
The Comets managed to pull one back before the end of the second, cutting the lead to 5-1. But that was the only time the puck would get behind Pasquale.
In the third, it was the Charles Hudon show. The speedy forward, who returned to the lineup after being on the receiving end of a brutal hit from behind last weekend, picked up two goals in the final 20. The first came off a rebound on a Ryan Johnston chance, and the second was set up by a stretch pass from Scherbak. 7-1 IceCaps.
#IceCaps up 7-1 now. Incredible feed from Nikita Scherbak, beautiful shot by Charles Hudon. #Habs pic.twitter.com/yFsGs8l5SH
— Mitch Brown (@MitchLBrown) April 10, 2016
Hudon is also on the cusp of an IceCaps franchise record. His two goals brought him within one of Eric O’Dell’s single season record of 29.
Goaltenders:
St. John’s: Eddie Pasquale (W) 30/31
Utica: Richard Bachman (L) 32/39
Three stars:
1. Ryan Johnston (2 Assits, +6)
2. Charles Hudon (2 Goals, Assist)
3. Michael McCarron (Goal, Assist)
