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EHLP: Little Flyers Take Two Points In Boston

By Anthony Lorusso , 10/25/17, 8:00PM EDT

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Sharkey Scores OT Game Winner

Aston, PA --  After going 2-1 at the first Eastern Hockey League Premier Showcase of the season, the Little Flyers hit the road for two games against one of the top teams in the North Conference, Boston Jr. Rangers.  The Jr. Rangers came into Saturday’s game winner of six straight games.

                Little Flyers head coach Mark Catron, started Ryan Creenan in net on Saturday night.  The game was a tight one through most of the first period.  The Jr. Rangers were out shooting the Little Flyers but unable to get a puck past Creenan until there was less than five minutes remaining in the first.  An even strength goal by the Jr. Rangers’ Sean Sullivan broke the scoreless tie.  For the period, Boston held the shots on goal advantage at 13-6. 

                The Jr. Rangers added to their lead with a flurry of goals in a six minute span during the second period.  Tim Rye’s even strength goal started the scoring for the home team, followed by goals from Ariel Kapulkin and Danila Larionovs to put the Jr. Rangers up 4-0 in the second.  The Little Flyers were able to get on the board at the 15:25 mark off of Louie Tranchitella’s first goal of the season; the goal was assisted by Kyle Scott and Nate Dunning.   Less than a minute later on the power play, the Little Flyers cut into the Jr. Rangers lead once again.  Joe Marcella deflected a Ryan Sharkey pass from the half wall into the net to cut the deficit to two, Dunning picked up his second assist of the game on the play. 

                The Jr. Rangers added a little breathing room early in the third period to increase their lead to three goals.  The Little Flyers were unable to get it going offensively in the final twenty minutes of the game and dropped the first game of the weekend series by a final score of 5-2.  Creenan finished the game with 26 saves for Philadelphia.

                On Sunday, the Little Flyers looked to leave Boston with a win and two points in the standings, Kolin Grogesky would get the start in net for the shorthanded Little Flyers who only dressed 16 players.  Midway through the first period, the Jr. Rangers scored a power play goal to take the 1-0 lead.  The Little Flyers answered back four minutes later to tie the game at 1-1.  The Jr. Rangers attempted to clear the puck from deep in their own zone, but the puck deflected off of Little flyers forward Ryan Sharkey to defenseman Brett Turner.  With his stick tied up, Turner kicked the puck to the slot for a streaking Kyle Scott.  The EHLP’s leading scorer buried the puck in the back of the net to tie the game.  The game remained tied heading into the first intermission with the Jr. Rangers having the slight advantage in shots on goal 9-7.  The two teams battled neck and neck in the second period with neither side able to put a goal on the scoreboard.

                The Little Flyers took the lead just 1:49 into the first period on Steve Rubillo’s first goal as a Little Flyer.  Rubillo was on the doorstep of the Jr. Rangers net and put home a rebound off of a Max McAllister shot, Patrick Swain also assisted on the play.  The Jr. Rangers battled back several minutes later to tie the game at 2-2 with 14 minutes left on the scoreboard.  With the game tied at 2-2, the home team took the lead with 6:30 left in the game on a Steve Wesley even strength goal.   Looking to tie the game late in the third period, Little Flyers head coach Mark Catron pulled the goalie in favor of the extra attacker with one minute left to play.  Max McAllister carried the puck into the Jr. Rangers zone, dished the puck to Ryan Sharkey who took a shot that was saved by Spencer Krul in the Boston net.  The rebound came out to the slot, a cutting Joe Marcella shot the puck past Krul to tie the game with 18 seconds left on the scoreboard. 

                In Overtime, Sharkey won a faceoff in the Jr. Rangers zone and got the puck to line mate Brett Turner down beyond the goal line.  Turner left the puck for Sharkey who cut towards the front of the net and tucked the puck between the goalies pad and the short side post for the game winning goal.  The goal was Sharkey’s 13th of the season.  Grogesky got the win, making 24 saves in net. 

                The Little Flyers will be back on home ice this weekend with a pair of games at IceWorks Skating Complex.  On Saturday they face South Conference opponent, New Jersey 87’s at 12:45 PM.  Sunday, the Little Flyers will welcome the Central Penn Panthers to Aston, PA for the two teams third match up of the season.