By Brendan McCarthy
The Telegram
Brett Connolly was the only one of 10 players to score in the shootout as the visiting Syracuse Crunch rallied to beat the St. John's IceCaps 3-2 in American Hockey League play Friday night at Mile One Centre.
On his attempt, Connolly, a Campbell River, B.C., native whose parents are from the Bay St. George region in western Newfoundland, managed to squeeze a shot under Eddie Pasquale.
It ended one of the most entertaining games at Mile One this season and must have had those in attendance hoping for similar things — but maybe not a similar score — Saturday when the teams square off again at Mile One (7:30 p.m. start)
Captain Jason Jaffray, with a goal in the last minute of the opening frame, and Patrice Cormier, with a defelction during a power-play early in the second, staked the IceCaps (23-31-5) to a 2-0 lead. Tyler Johnson, with his league leading 30th goal later in the middle frame, and Dana Tyrell, midway through the third, scored for the Crunch (35-17-7).
The result ended a four-game losing streak for the Tampa Bay Lightning farm team, which retained at least a tie for first place overall in the AHL.
Pasquale had 29 saves, while Riku Helenius of the Crunch made 33 stops.
Notes:
Friday's Coors Light three stars: 1. Jaffray 2. Johnson 3. Connolly, while Cormier was the choice as Mary Browns hardest-working IceCap ... A steady stream of mostly-young fans made their way to the Team Telegram FanZone to have their shots clocked on a speed gun. Video of the event will be available on The Telegram's website (thetelegram.com) early next week
bmcc@thetelegram.com
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