WILKES-BARRE/SCRANTON, Pa – The St. John’s IceCaps used an overtime victory Sunday to take a commanding three games to one lead in their best-of-seven AHL Eastern Conference semifinal with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. The IceCaps will have an opportunity to win the series when the teams meet for game five on Tuesday night in Wilkes-Barre.
Ben Maxwell’s goal just 27 seconds into overtime gave St. John’s a 3-2 victory in game four of the series. With the IceCaps swarming the Penguins net right off the puck drop in OT, Maxwell fired a rebound past Wilkes-
Ben Maxwell scored just 27 seconds into overtime to give St. John%27s a 3-2 win on Sunday afternoon. File photo by Jeff Cull
“It hit a couple shin pads in there and managed to wind up on my stick and go in,” Maxwell told the Canadian Press after Sunday’s game.
With a 3-1 series lead, the IceCaps are one win away from advancing to the Eastern Conference final. However, St. John’s head coach Keith McCambridge is not looking that far ahead yet, choosing instead to focus only on preparing his team for Tuesday’s game five.
“Wilkes-Barre is a very good team and is playing some strong hockey,” McCambridge told the Winnipeg Free Press. “All of the games have been really strongly contested and we expect more of the same.”
Game four of the series did not start the way the IceCaps had hoped, as they found themselves trailing 2-0 shortly after the first period began. Colin McDonald put Wilkes-Barre/Scranton up 1-0 at 4:30 of the first, with Eric Tangradi making the score 2-0 Penguins at 6:49 of the opening frame.
The IceCaps regrouped in the second period, using a power play goal from Derek Meech at 4:24 and an even strength marker from Maxime Macenauer at 16:35 to tie the game at two.
After a scoreless third period, Maxwell’s overtime goal ended the game on a high note for St. John’s.
“Two-nothing early, we talked about between periods. It’s not a 10-minute game. It’s not a one-period game. It’s a three-period game. We have to make sure we chip away. I thought the guys did a good job getting momentum back on our side,” McCambridge told www.stjohnsicecaps.com .
Jason King had two assists for the IceCaps in the victory, with Maxwell, Brett Festerling, Paul Postma and Spencer Machacek each adding a helper for St. John’s. Tangradi, Alexandre Picard, Geoff Walker and Joey Mormina each had one assist for the Penguins.
Thisessen stopped 26 shots in goal for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, while Eddie Pasquale made 14 saves in net for the IceCaps.
Contact Darcy.MacRae@prohockeynews.com
Contact the photographer at Jeff.Cull@prohockeynews.com
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