Auggie Moore’s goal with 2:51 left in overtime gave the Rebels a thrilling 5 – 4 come from behind victory over the visiting Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights last night. The win kept the Rebels perfect on the season with an 8 – 0 record.
Ryan Patrick started the scoring for the Rebels just under the midway point of the first period. After Andrew Bellant won the draw deep inside the Knights zone, the puck would go along the far side boards where it was picked up by Patrick. With a Knight on him, Patrick sent a pass back to the point to Diarmad DiMurro. DiMurro took a shot that was save by Knights goalie David Tomeo but the rebound came out to Patrick who tucked the puck behind the Knights netminder to give the Rebels a 1 – 0 with 9:21 remaining in the opening period.
The Rebels lead lasted fifty-seven seconds.
As the puck went to the far side boards after the Knights won the draw deep inside the Rebels zone, it was picked up by WBS’ Matt Kideny who had fended off a check from Rebels defenseman Seth Bergeron. Kidney would send the puck back to the point to Blake Kryska who took a slapshot that was redirected by Reed Robinson in the slot past Rebels goalie Eli Billing with 8:24 left in the opening period.
With 1:42 left in the period, the Rebels would find themselves in a situation they haven’t been in all season: they were trailing. Justin Engelkes would bring the puck into the Rebels zone and dumped it into the far side corner. The puck would come up along the boards where it was picked up by Robinson who passed it back to Kidney in the high slot. Kidney took a shot that was saved by Billing but the deep rebound came right back to Robinson who beat Billing blocker side to give the Knights a 2 – 1 lead going into the second period.
Carson Briere would knot the game at two just 2:25 into the middle stanza. With Patrick battling for the puck along the near side boards, it would come out to Bellant who skated towards the slot. He took a shot that was saved by Tomeo but it hit the goalie in the mask and the rebound came out to Briere who lifted the puck into the net for his first goal of the season.
Justin Smith’s second goal on the season would give the Rebels a 3 – 2 lead with 6:26 left in the second. Bergeron would dump the puck deep inside the Knights zone where Adam Peck picked it up behind the net. He passed it up along the boards to Bellant who was looking for Patrick in the slot. The puck would come off Patrick’s stick and go back to the point to Smith who took a slapshot that beat Tomeo long side.
Briere would be called for holding with 5:48 remaining the second to give the Knights their fifth power play chance of the evening. This time they were able to convert. After the Knights won the ensuing draw inside the Rebels zone, Mike Morrissey would pick up the puck and bring it behind the Rebels net and pass it back to the point to Paul Cimilluca. Cimilluca would pass it back to Morrissey at the top of the circle and he passed it download to Mike Gelatt, who was at Billing’s blocker side. Gelatt would take a short side shot that was saved by Billing but the rebound came back to Gelatt who had skated to the top of the goal mouth and he put the puck into an open net to tie this seesaw game at three.
The second period ended in similar fashion as the first: the Knights scored with 1:34 left in the period to take a 4 – 3 lead. Gelatt would win the draw deep inside the Rebel zone. As the puck slid to the corner, Gelatt would outwork a Rebels’ defender along the boards and skated towards the net. As Gelatt went to the top of the crease he took a shot that beat Billing between his pads. It was Gelatt’s second goal of the game.
Patrick would tie it with his second goal of the game. With the Rebels on a delayed offside, the Knights tried to dump the puck high into the neutral zone but Kolby Vegara gloved it at his own blueline and skated through center ice. As Vegara skated into the Knights zone he passed it over to Patrick on his right. Patrick would take a backhand shot that beat Tomeo high, short side to make it a 4 – 4 game with 3:11 left in regulation.
The Rebels and Knights would then go into overtime. With now less than three minutes remaining in the extra period Moore would bring the puck behind his own net and start to skate out of his end. He sent a cross-ice pass up to DiMurro who brought the puck into the Knights zone on a 2 on 1 with Moore. As DiMurro got to the top of the faceoff circle he passed the puck over to Moore on his right. Moore would redirect the puck passed Tomeo high glove side to give the Rebels the 5 – 4 victory. It was the Rebels second overtime win of the season.
Tomeo stopped 27 of 32 shots he faced while Billing turned aside 17 of 21 shots. Click here for the box score.
The Rebels will conclude their five game homestand tonight at 6:20pm against the New Jersey Titans.
