Wolf Pack Defeat the Amerks in a Shootout

The Amerks did something familiar on Saturday night, played beyond regulation time in a game this season. Out of 24 games played this season they’ve played 11 of them in overtime, five have gone into a shootout.

The good is that the team has extended their point streak to eight straight games. Also, in those 24 games played they’ve only lost once in regulation. Only time will tell how much one point vs two points impacts the standings but when percentages matter they’re on the right path and still in second place.

Peter Holland scored the first goal of the game at 12:26 of the first period all alone in front of the Amerks net. Linus Ullmark made the initial save but Holland buried the rebound. As you can see in the clip below Holland just walked in front of the net and Scott Kosmachuk didn’t hesitate getting the puck to him.

Gill converted a turnover into a pass to CJ Smith with just over four minutes remaining in the first period for a scoring chance but Chris Nell made a great save.

The first period ended with the Wolf Pack leading 1-0 and both teams tied in shots at nine.

CJ Smith scored at 13:20 of the second period thanks to a bounce that went his way. He put the puck on net and it went off the stick of a Wolf Pack player into the net.

Eric Cornel was sent to the box for high sticking in the third period and the Wolf Pack went on the power play for the fourth time. Excellent puck movement by the Wolf Pack on the power play and Holland was able to score for the second time in the game from the bottom of the face off circle.

Kyle Criscuolo showed some grit 7:56 into the 3rd period when he went in hard against Brandon Crawly to get the puck and ended up dropping the gloves. He was given two minutes for boarding and two for roughing. Vinni Lettieri also earned two for roughing.

Colin Blackwell lead the way towards the Amerks second goal of the game to tie it at two. Blackwell took the puck into the Wolf Pack end, around the net, back hand pass to Zach Redmond who ripped a quick wrist shot into the net.

Sean Malone had an excellent chance at the last second of regulation time but it either went off the cross bar or Wolf Pack goalie Chris Nell got a piece of it.

(The above gifs aren’t the best due to the live feed of the game not being the best)

The Amerks had a two minute power play in overtime but a combination of blocked shots, good saves and a few bad passes allowed the Wolf Pack to kill it off.

In the shootout CJ Smith and Seth Griffith scored. Eric Cornel and Colin Blackwell did not. On the Wolf Pack side they had Adam Tambellini, Peter Holland and Scott Kosmachuk score. Only Vinni Lettieri did not.

Here’s the shootout highlights:

Ullmark is now 2-1 in shootouts this season with a .500 save percentage. Last season Ullmark was 1-2 in shootouts with a .714 save percentage. Wilcox is 0-2 this season with a .500 save percentage as well in shootouts.

The Amerks finish off their road trip Sunday afternoon with a 3pm game in Bridgeport.