Despite being mostly outplayed the entire game, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights scored two, third period goals to defeat the visiting Philadelphia Rebels 2 – 1 and sweep the weekend series. The loss puts the Rebels three points behind the East Division leading Knights, who took two of three games between these teams which started this past Wednesday.
The Knights road the back of netminder Christian Stoever who arguably played his best game of the year as he turned aside 45 of 46 shots. Stoever stood on his head and kept the Knights in it, particularly the first period when the Knights were outshot 18 – 4.
With 3:05 left in the opening period, the Knights’ Anthony Firriolo was called for hooking to put the Rebels on their third powerplay of the game. This time they were able to convert.
Adam Peck would win the draw deep inside the Knights zone. The puck went back to far side point to Diarmad DiMurro who immediately passed it over to Carson Moniz on his right. The two-point men would pass the puck back a couple of times before Moniz took a shot on Stoever but he was unable to control the rebound and Peck would knock it in to give the Rebels a 1 – 0 with 1:50 left in the first.
Although the Knights were outshot 26 – 10 going into the final period, they did have a few chances to tie the game but Rebels goalie Ryan Keane had to make some grade A saves himself to keep the Knights off the board.
Finally, with 10:20 left in the third period, the Knights were able to tie the game at one. WBS’ forward Jack Olmsted picked up a loose puck at the top of the near side faceoff circle and sent it back to Luke Robinson at the point. Robinson took a slapshot that was saved by Keane but the rebound came out to Matt Kidney who took a shot but it hit the crossbar and Curtis Carlson tapped in the rebound into an open net for his eighth goal on the season.
Then with fifty-one seconds left in the game, Michael Morrissey scored the game winner. Morrissey would bring the puck out alongside the Rebels net and pass it back to Reed Robinson. Robinson would skate the puck behind the net and pass it back to Luke Robinson at the point. Robinson took a slapshot that was redirected by Morrissey in the slot past Keane to give the Knights a 2 – 1 lead.
The Rebels had a couple of more chances at the end but Stoever again made some key saves to keep the visitors from tying the game.
Keane stopped 14 of 16 shots. Click here for the box score.
The Rebels will conclude their eight-game road trip next weekend when they travel to Attleboro, MA to play the Generals for three games.
