Leo Ukhmylov showed no signs of slowing down after being named an EHLP star of the week, scoring twice in a 5-3 win over the Jersey Wildcats on Wednesday night in MIddletown.

The Russian defenseman now has five goals in as many games, including the game-winner last night on a scorching one-timer that was labeled for the top corner of the net.

"He's starting to play with a lot of confidence," 87's head coach Adam Houli said of Ukhmylov. "That's what you need in order to make it to the next level."

The 87's jumped to a 2-0 lead early in game with goals from Austin Bell and Ukhmylov, but the Wildcats came back with three unanswered goals. Aidan Wright scored on the power play late in the first, and Shawn Meneghin scored twice in the second period to give the Wildcats a 3-2 lead. 

Bell said the team was able to keep its composure after the Wildcats' third goal, as the 87's spent the latter half of the second period pushing for the tying goal.

"It was a little quiet at first, but we knew we were still in the game and we just kept pushing and working hard," Bell said.

The hard work paid off as Antonio Briggs-Blake was able to sneak the puck past Wildcats goalie John Profaci on the near post, tying the score at three with eight minutes remaining in the second period.

"Pierce (Wickenden) worked hard to get the puck down low, and he just put the puck in front so I could tap it in for the goal," Briggs-Blake said.

Before the period ended, the 87's went on the power play, where Ukhmylov notched his second goal of the night to give the team a 4-3 lead. 

The 87's controlled much of the tempo in the third period with the exception of a five-on-three power play for the Wildcats. New Jersey was able to kill off the penalty with a little help from goaltender Tristen Gillispie, who made two great saves at the end of the kill. Profaci was eventually pulled for the extra attacker, but Michael Termine scored on the empty net to give the 87's a 5-3 lead.

Gillispie made 16 saves to earn his team-high fifth win of the season. The 87's will now be tested with a pair of road games this weekend with a game against the New Jersey Renegades on Saturday, followed by a matchup against the Philadelphia Little Flyers on Sunday.

"Any time you play the Renegades, it's a rivalry game. For us, it's also the New Jersey Junior Cup, so it's got cup points on the line," Houli said. "For us, we're taking it as a playoff matchup where we want to win two games and move on."