Northeast forward Sviatoslov Kuchynski scored with 1:52 left in overtime to give the Generals a wild 4 – 3 victory over the visiting Philadelphia Rebels.
Down 3 – 0 entering the third period, the Generals scored three unanswered goals to send the game into overtime.
The Rebels took an early lead just 5:47 into the first period on Brandon Stanley’s ninth goal on the season. After breaking up a play at his own blueline, forward Alex Frye sent a stretch pass up to Stanley who entered the offensive zone on a breakaway and shot the puck through Generals’ goalie David Fessenden’s five hole to give the visitors a 1 – 0 lead.
With fifty seconds left in the opening period, the Rebels would go up 2 – 0. Carson Moniz would pick up the loose puck at center ice and pass it over to Ryan Patrick on this left. The Rebels captain would enter the offensive zone and send it up to Aaron Maguyon. As he skated towards the hash marks, Maguyon took a shot that was saved by Fessenden but the deep rebound came out to Jensen Zerban who took a quick wrist shot that beat the Generals goalie long side.
The Rebels would extend their lead with 1:15 into the second period. After Rebels forward Eric Olson picked up the rebound off of a save by Eli Billing, he would headman the puck up to Patrick at center ice. Patrick entered the Generals zone with a defender on him as he skated towards the net. Patrick would take a soft shot that beat Fessenden to give the 3 – 0 lead.
Then the wheels fell off.
With Konur Peterson called for tripping and then Seth Bergeron sent to the box for checking-from-behind, Northeast had a five-on-three advantage. Colin Bilek had the puck down low to the blocker side of Billing. Bilek would pass it back to Mike Egan at the top of the faceoff circle. Egan passed the puck over to Luke Perunovich who took a one-timer that went through Billing’s five hole to put the Generals on the board at 4:47 into the third period.
With 6:47 left in the period, Andrew Bellant could have sealed the game for the Rebels on a breakaway goal but his backhander went wide of the net.
Moniz then was called for tripping with 4:24 left in the third.
After Egan won the draw deep inside the Rebels zone, the puck would go back to Matthew Wiesner who poked it back to Perunovich at the point. Perunovich passed it over to Louis Bouden on his left. The Grenoble, France native took a slapshot that was saved by Billing through a screen but Wiesner picked up the rebound and put it into the back of the net to cut the Rebels lead in half with 3:10 left in the game.
Northeast forward Shawn Montgomery was called for cross-checking with 1:43 remaining in the period to give the Rebels the extra attacker. Matt Demelis would win the ensuing draw deep inside his own zone and the puck when back to Ryan Rowland. The New Jersey native would pass the puck up to Boudon who entered the Rebels zone on a two-on-one with Demelis. Boudon would sent a backdoor pass to Demelis who tucked the puck in shortside passed Billing to tie the game at three with 1:32 remaining in regulation.
Fifteen seconds into overtime the Rebels thought they had won the game on Bellant’s eleventh goal on the season. After deliberation, the goal was disallowed and Jimmy Glynn was penalized for butt ending and Austin Martz received a two-minute penalty to give the Generals a two-man advantage.
As Martz’s penalty expired to make it 5 on 4, Justin Jallen would hustle to keep the puck in the offensive zone as it was about to cross the blueine. Jallen passed it downlow to Demelis who sent a cross-ice pass to Kuchynski and he one-timed it pass Billing to give the Generals the 4 – 3 victory.
Billing stopped 26 of 30 shots he faced while Fessenden and Marko Sturma combined to save 27 of 30 shots. Click here for the box score.
The two teams will be at it tomorrow night at 7:30pm in game two of this three game series.
