Special Teams a Key for Dashers, Beat Carolina 4-2

Winston-Salem, NC –Special Teams a Key for Dashers, Beat Carolina 4-2. 

How It Happened

After a 4-3 win on home ice, the Carolina Thunderbirds come into action sitting in 3rd place in the league standings. Playing game 2 of 3 against the 5th place Danville Dashers, it is the 8th meeting between the two teams this season. Each team has 4 wins to their credit, but this is the first series played in Winston-Salem.

In net for the Dashers it would be Matt Kaludis getting the nod once again. He has a 8-7-1 record this season with a 3.63 goals-against average and a .893 save percentage. For Carolina it would be Chris Paulin, who has played most of his games against Danville this season, and sports a 3-2 record. Paulin also has a 4.00 goals-against average and a .873 save percentage.

Once again it would be a quick offensive start for Carolina, just 1:57 into the period a shot from the point would be deflected past Kaludis by Jay Croop, his 8th of the season. Chase Fallis would get credit for the assist. Each team would kill off a penalty during the period, and spend the most of the frame trading good scoring chances. At 17:43 of the 1st the Dashers’ Matt Coleman would push his way forward off the face-off win and slide the puck across to Brandon Whalin. Whalin, in all alone, would slide the puck past a diving Paulin to tie the game. The goal is Whalin’s 1st of the season and 2nd point, Coleman’s assist is his 12th of the campaign. The teams would skate tied into the intermission, with the shots 13-7 in favor of Carolina.

The whistle of the referee would be busy during the 2nd period as the two teams would combine for 7 penalties during the frame. After a Ryan Jasinsky holding minor and a Alex Vazquez interference penalty the Dashers would get a true 5-on-3 penalty for the full 2 minutes. Justin Brausen would take a pass and fire the puck off of a Thunderbird defender and past Paulin to make it 2-1 Danville. Glen Patterson and Andrew Harrison would assist on the goal, which his Brausens’ 8th power-play tally of the season. Later in the frame an Aaron Atwell tripping penalty would send the Thunderbirds back on the power-play. Mike Henrici of Carolina would secure the puck on a net-mouth scramble and fire it past Kaludis to tie the game up at 2 at 12:52 of the period. At 13:20 Jasinski would take another penalty, this time a high-sticking, and send the Dashers back on the power-play. 20 seconds later Ben Boukal would wire the puck past Paulin to make it 3-2 Danville at 13:42. Aaron Atwell and Justin Levac would assist on the goal. The teams would skate into the intermission with the Dashers leading 3-2, but trailing in shots 28-15.

Special teams would remain the story of the game as Danville would weather the Thunderbirds storm of offense, but at 10:27 of the period Chase Fallis of Carolina would take a double-minor for high-sticking. On the first half of the double the Dashers would strike, Vincent Caliguri, who drew the call, would score on a rebound. The goal would be the third power-play goal of the game for Danville, and it would double up Carolina 4-2. The Dashers would fight off 20 total shots in the period to secure the win.

In the victory Matt Kaludis would stop

Notable Stats

During the 2nd period Ryan Jasinsky would be called for a high-sticking minor penalty and an abuse of officials miscounduct penalty. He was escorted off the ice by the officials, who informed Thunderbirds coaches and staff he was being ejected for taking 5 penalties over the course of the game. Thunderbirds President and GM Scott Brand made a statement regarding the situation.

“Our organization supports the FHL and it’s officiating staff, overall the officials do a good job every night. We understand that officials are human, and don’t question judgement calls, however tonight Ryan was ejection for a rule that doesn’t exist, we believe our players, coaching staff and fans deserve better, lack of rule knowledge has no place in professional sports from the people entrusted to enforce the rules. We have expressed our disappointed with the league office and have asked for the situation to be addressed. By no means does the organization question the outcome of the contest, but wishes to express its’ concern that the letter of the law was not followed.” 

Attendance:2,068.

Back in Action

The Thunderbirds will finish their homestand on Saturday January 20th against the Danville Dashers. Saturday’s game is Veteran’s Appreciation night, the Thunderbirds will wear specialty jerseys and former or active military members can get 4 tickets for $20 with a valid ID. For tickets and more information please visit www.carolinathunderbirds.com or call 336-774-GOAL(4625).