PHOTOS: Pheonix Copley’s Shutdown Performance Gives Hershey Shootout Win
HERSHEY, PA – Pheonix Copley goes to hugs Chris Brown after making his final save in the shootout against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Saturday night (Kyle Mace / Chocolate Hockey)
After Philipp Grubauer was injured in the Bears last game on New Year’s Eve, back-up goalie Pheonix Copley was set up to start against the Penguins where he hoped to get his second win against Hershey’s archrival. Sitting six points back behind the Baby Pens, the Bears hoped to get a quality start out of the young goalie and gain some ground on the first place team.
In front of the sold out Giant Center crowd, Copley only allowed one puck past all night, Matia Marcantuoni tying goal in the second period after Erik Burgdoerfer first AHL goal a few minutes earlier.
The game would be tied all the way though overtime, when Copley would shutdown the Pens, not allowing a single shootout goal past. Philippe Cornet would score in the fifth round, setting up Tom Kostopoulos to have to score, which he could not, giving Hershey the extra point and win.
Photos from the game:
Dane Byers throws the hit of the year on Taylor Chorney early in the first period
Byers is jumped behind the net by Carter Rowney
Casey Wellman sends a pass of the boards
Chris Conner tries to backhand a puck as he goes flying
Tomas Kundratek and Connor Carrick prepare their skates during a break in action
Cameron Schilling clears the puck out from in front of Copley
Hit scoreboard: Byers 2, Penguins 0
Burgdoerfer celebrates his first goal
Copley is beat for the only time all night
Chris Brown draws a penalty in the second
Steve Oleksy clears the puck in overtime
Copley makes a save in the first round on Josh Archibald
Jean-Sebastien Dea has his shot blocked by Copley’s toe in the third round
Cornet scores in the fifth
Save. Da Bears win.