Weekly Wrap-Up - Atlantic Division (Week 10)
The Weekly Wrap-Up, Atlantic Division style, returns as Julie takes a look around arguably the toughest (and currently hottest) division in the entire AHL.
Providence Bruins
Record Last Week: 3-0-0
On Friday night in Providence, Hartford pushed the game to a shootout, but the Bruins emerged with a 4-3 victory in four rounds. Colby Cave and Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson each scored in the second period, but it was a goal from Jordan Szwarz who scored with just 40 seconds left i the game that prompted overtime. In the shootout, Kenny Agostino and Austin Czarnik each tallied goals while Hartford got just one past Zane McIntyre. McIntyre also made 33 saves before the shootout to earn the victory.
The Utica Comets also took the Bruins to the extra frame Saturday, but Szwarz got ended this one in OT, giving Providence the 3-2 victory. Forsbacka Karlsson scored early in the second to momentarily give the Bruins the lead, but a pair of Utica goals in the second and third paved the way for a late Connor Clifton goal that sent the game to OT. Jordan Binnington earned the victory between the pipes for Providence; he made 34 saves.
On Sunday, the Bruins made it three-straight extra-frame games on the week as they earned another OT victory over the Comets, 4-3. Jesse Gabrielle scored his first goal of the season while Josh Hennessy, and Rob O’Gara added third period goals for Providence. Agostino got the game-winner just 26 seconds into overtime. McIntyre made 20 saves in net for the Bruins.
Charlotte Checkers
Record Last Week: 2-0-0
The Checkers continued their hot streak as they dealt former Atlantic Division leader Wilkes-Barre/Scranton another loss. Andrew Miller and Andrew Poturalski each scored in the second period to lift Charlotte to a 2-1 victory. Jeremy Smith earned the victory in goal for Charlotte with 22 saves on 23 shots.
On Saturday, the Checkers quickly dispatched the Binghamton Devils in a lopsided 7-1 victory. Julien Gauthier and Valentin Zykov each scored a pair of goals while Nick Schilkey, Poturalski, and Sergey Tolchinsky each added one for Charlotte. Alex Nedeljkovic allowed just one goal on 21 shots in the victory for the Checkers.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
Record Last Week: 1-2-0
On Wednesday night in Allentown, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins got shutout by the Phantoms 5-0. Anthony Peters made 15 saves on just 19 Lehigh Valley shots in the loss for the Penguins before being lifted in favor of Sean Maguire, who made 15 saves on 16 shots.
Friday night, the Charlotte Checkers made the trip to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and emerged with a 2-1 victory furthering the woes of the Penguins. Daniel Sprong scored 37 seconds into the third, but it wasn’t enough to overcome a pair of Checkers goals in the second. Sean Maguire stopped 28 shots in the loss for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
The Penguins salvaged the week though on Sunday in Hershey with a 4-1 victory over the Bears. Christian Thomas scored against his former team and Sprong and Thomas DiPauli each added first period goals. Zach Troutman added a 5-on-3 PP goal in the third for the Penguins. Maguire made 18 saves for the victory.
Lehigh Valley Phantoms
Record Last Week: 2-1-0
The Phantoms kicked the week off in style with a 5-0 whitewashing of the then-Atlantic Division leading Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Mikhail Vorobyev, Corbin Knight, and Oskar Lindblom all notched goals in the first. Tyrell Goulbourne added a shorthanded goal in the second. Matt Read rounded out the scoring with a third period tally. Dustin Tokarski made 39 saves to preserve the shutout.
On Friday, the Phantoms continued their dominance over the Hershey Bears in Allentown with a 5-4 victory. Tyrell Goulbourne and Adam Comrie each scored in the first period for Lehigh Valley. Mike Vecchione and Phil Varone added second period tallies and Greg Carey scored early in the third to build a commanding lead. Dustin Tokarski made just enough saves (19) to preserve the victory despite a late Hershey rally.
A late arrival to Giant Center combined with recalls and injuries may have played a part in Hershey’s 4-2 victory over the Phantoms on Saturday. Lindblom and Vorobyev each notched third period tallies, but it wasn’t enough as Hershey added two third period tallies of their own in a late-starting game due to Lehigh Valley getting caught behind an accident on I-78. Tokarski once again got the nod. He made 19 saves in the loss.
Bridgeport Sound Tigers
Record Last Week: 0-2-0
The Sound Tigers were unable to mount a comeback Saturday night in Springfield as the Thunderbirds recorded a 4-3 victory. Tanner Fritz, Devon Toews, and Steve Bernier all scored for Bridgeport in the loss, but it wasn’t enough as Springfield got four of their 26 shots past Christopher Gibson.
On Sunday, Rochester made sure the Sound Tigers went without a point on the week with a 4-1 victory in Bridgeport. Casey Bailey scored the lone goal on the powerplay in the second, but the Americans had already scored a powerplay and short-handed goal in the first and cruised to the victory. Kristers Gudlevskis made 29 saves in the loss.
Hershey Bears
Record Last Week: 1-2-0
The Hershey Bears mounted a late rally in Allentown Friday night, but it wasn’t enough to earn their first victory over Lehigh Valley on the Phantoms’ ice. John Albert tied the game late in the first, but four straight Phantoms goals seemed to lock up the game until Lucas Johansen, Mathias Bau, and Aaron Ness notched goals in the third. The Bears were unable to tie the game though as Lehigh Valley went on to win, 5-4. Pheonix Copley started the night for Hershey, but was lifted after allowing 3 goals on 14 shots. Vitek Vanecek went the remainder of the way making 10 saves on 12 shots.
The Bears got off to a hot start Saturday night to avenge Friday night’s loss with a 4-2 victory over the Phantoms in Hershey. Johansen recorded his fifth goal of the season on the PP in the first period. Then in the second, Chris Bourque notched his 11th goal of the season. After Lehigh Valley brought the game within a goal, Hershey captain, Garrett Mitchell made his presence felt as he returned to the ice following games missed due to injury. His goal at the 3:54 mark of the third would go on to become the game-winner. Tyler Graovac then added an insurance goal less than six minutes later for the Bears. Vanecek made several dazzling saves en route to the 24-save victory.
On Sunday, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins had their way with the error-prone Bears as Hershey fell 4-1. Graovac scored Hershey’s lone goal on the powerplay late in the first. Copley made 23 saves on 27 shots in the loss for Hershey.
Hartford Wolf Pack
Record Last Week: 2-0-1
On Friday night in Providence, the Bruins tied the game with just 40 seconds left and then earned a victory in the shootout to deny the Wolf Pack a victory. Ryan Graves put Hartford up in the first period. After Providence took the lead in the second, a pair of Cole Schneider goals put the Wolf Pack back in front, but Jordan Szwarz forced overtime with a goal in the last minute of regulation. Adam Tambellini notched Hartford’s lone shootout goal in the 4-3 loss. Alexandar Georgiev made 35 saves for Hartford.
Saturday night against Hartford, the Wolf Pack flipped the script, earning a 3-2 victory over Rochester in their second straight shootout. Peter Holland tallied both of Hartford’s goals in regulation. He combined with Tambellini and Scott Kosmachuk to lift the Wolf Pack to the victory in the four-round skills competition. Chris Nell went the distance in net for Hartford with 28 saves on 30 shots.
Hartford’s lone regulation victory this week came on Sunday as they dispatched of the Springfield Thunderbirds 5-3. Vinni Lettieri and Dawson Leedahl scored in the first. Kosmachuk added a goal early in the second to build a 3-0 lead. After two Springfield goals, Steven Fogarty tallied a short-handed goal late in the second. Lettieri rounded out the scoring late in the third. Marek Mazanec became the third goalie to see action this week for Hartford, making 17 saves for the victory.
Springfield Thunderbirds
Record Last Week: 1-2-0
Maxime Fortunus scored his first goal of the season late in the third period, but it wasn’t enough as the Rochester Americans scored a pair of goals to earn a 2-1 victory in Springfield Friday night. Samuel Montembeault recorded 35 saves in goal for the Thunderbirds in the loss.
The Thunderbirds responded Saturday night with a 4-3 victory over the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. Jayce Hawryluk recorded a pair of goals while Maxim Mamin and Alexandre Grenier each scored to give Springfield a 4-1 lead early in the third. The Thunderbirds held on down the stretch despite a late Bridgeport rally. Montembeault recorded the 24-save victory.
The Thunderbirds found themselves down 3-0 in the second before Henrik Haapala scored on the PP and Juho Lammikko added a short-handed goal to pull Springfield within a goal. Anthony Greco added a goal in the third, but it wasn’t enough as Hartford went on to win 5-3. Evan Cowley made 28 saves in the loss for Springfield.
Atlantic Division Standings as of December 11th, 2017
Providence: 24 GP, 16-6-2-0, 34 points, .708 pct Charlotte: 25 GP, 16-8-0-1, 29 points, .660 pct W-B/Scranton: 23 GP, 14--1-1, 28 points, .652 pct Lehigh Valley: 26 GP, 15-8-1-2, 29 points, .635 pct Bridgeport: 24 GP, 12-10-1-1, 26 points, .542 pct Hershey: 27 GP, 12-12-0-3, 25 points, .500 pct Hartford: 27 GP, 10-12-3-2, 20 points, .463 pct Springfield: 28 GP, 10-17-1-0, 19 points, .375 pct
This Week’s Atlantic Division Schedule:
Tuesday, December 12
Lehigh Valley at Charlotte - 7:00 PM
Wednesday, December 13
Providence at Hershey - 7:00 PM Lehigh Valley at Charlotte - 7:00 PM Springfield at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton - 7:05 PM
Friday, December 15
Providence at Syracuse - 7:00 PM Bridgeport at Springfield - 7:05 PM Wilkes-Barre/Scranton at Hartford - 7:15 PM
Saturday, December 16
Laval at Charlotte - 6:00 PM Providence at Hershey - 7:00 PM Wilkes-Barre/Scranton at Bridgeport - 7:00 PM Hartford at Springfield - 7:05 PM Syracuse at Lehigh Valley - 7:05 PM
Sunday, December 17
Laval at Charlotte - 1:00 PM Lehigh Valley at Bridgeport - 3:00 PM
