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87's look to continue surge after Thanksgiving break

By Anthony Di Paolo, 12/06/19, 9:00PM EST

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Both teams look build off winning streaks after break

Both New Jersey 87's teams entered the Thanksgiving break with a three-game winning streak, and each of their final victories came against the Philadelphia Little Flyers on the road. After having a week off, both teams will get right back to work with a stretch of games to close out the calendar year of 2019.

 

Beals' goal highlights EHL team's rout over Philadelphia

The 87's EHL team had just come off a convincing 9-0 victory over the Connecticut RoughRiders--a team that usually gives the 87's a tough time--prior to their matchup in Philadelphia on Sunday Nov. 24. The Little Flyers struck first at 3:46 of the first period, but New Jersey responded with four goals before the first intermission. Andrew Maynard tied the game at 6:52, and Zach Tarantino scored the go-ahead goal at 15:00.

A minute after Tarantino's goal, the 87's took a penalty on a two-on-two rush. During the delayed call, a shot whistled past goaltender Tanner Beals and rimmed towards the Flyers' bench. From there, a defender passed the puck into an empty net to give the 87's a 3-1 lead. The goal was initially awarded to Joe Guercio, but it was concluded after the game that Beals made a blocker save before the own goal. He was officially credited with the goal, making him the first 87's goaltender to achieve the feat.

New Jersey scored four more goals in the second period, including Maynard's third of the game to complete the hat trick. The Little Flyers scored responded with two goals early in the third period, but the 87's cruised to an 8-3 win and vaulted into first place in the Mid-Atlantic Conference.

 

Premier team coming off two wins vs. Philly teams

On Saturday Nov. 24, the 87's Premier team played against the Philadelphia Revolution in Middletown. The game had a rather slow tempo, and while the 87's generated 42 shots on goal, not many of them were high-danger chances. Ivan Borisov struck first at 11:59 of the second period, and it would stand as the only goal of the game. Cameron Carmen turned aside all 25 shots he faced to earn his shutout of the year.

The following afternoon, the Premier team went up against the first-place Philadelphia Little Flyers. It atmosphere was the opposite of the previous day, featuring an intense matchup that could serve as a preview in the playoffs this spring. The Little Flyers opened the scoring at 2:19 of the first period, but Hugh McGuigan responded with a goal 30 seconds later to even things up. 

Shortly after McGuigan's goal, Tom Swartwout was ganged up by two Little Flyers defenders, but received a five minute major for an apparent head-butt. While assistant coach Matt Kiernan voiced his displeasure on the call, the team responded with a shorthanded goal from Luke Satkowski at 5:25. Philadelphia returned the favor, however, with a shorthanded goal at 1:10 of the second period, setting up a 2-2 game at the start of the third.

New Jersey jumped out in front with an early goal by Andrew Walsh, but the Little Flyers erased their deficit once more at 6:44 of the third. The 87's pulled away once and for all with three power play goals, including two in a span of 28 seconds. Dylan Gutierrez scored the go-ahead goal with a wrister from the top of the right circle while Satkowski banked in a shot for his second goal of the game. Ty Carter ripped a slap shot from the point with 19 seconds left in the game, while Cameron Carmen made another 25 saves to cap off the 6-3 victory.

 

Upcoming games

 

EHL

Saturday Dec 7: at North Carolina Golden Bears - 8:15 p.m.

Sunday Dec 8: at North Carolina Golden Bears - 12:30 p.m.

 

Premier

Sunday Dec 8: vs. New Jersey Renegades - 6:45 p.m.