The Amherst Ramblers took advantage of a power play at the start of overtime to earn a 3-2 win and two points as the MHL (Maritime Junior Hockey League) Showcase concluded at Eastlink Arena on Wednesday night.
“We did a good job of clawing our way back as Amherst was playing a pretty solid game,” said Capitals head coach Billy McGuigan.
The Showcase, which attracted scouts from different levels, featured all 12 teams playing a pair of games consisting of two 25-minute periods at Credit Union Place on Tuesday and Wednesday.
At Eastlink Arena, Liam Conrad’s power-play goal gave the Ramblers a 1-0 lead after the first period. Will Lafford’s short-handed goal at 11:51 of the second period upped Amherst’s lead to 2-0.
However, the Caps refused to quit and rookie Josh MacDonald started the comeback at 17:46. MacDonald, who charged to the goal off the left wing, banged in a goal-mouth pass from TJ Shea. Rookie Jordan Spence also assisted on the goal.
Equalizer
Then with 1:51 left in regulation time, defenceman Jesse Annear, positioned to the right of Amherst goaltender Joel Goguen, back-handed home a loose puck with the Caps on the power play to even the score. Shea and Kallum Muirhead assisted.
But with 12.5 seconds left, the Capitals got caught on a bad line change, and were assessed a minor penalty for too many men on the ice. That left the Ramblers with a 4-on-3 power play to start the five-minute overtime.
It didn’t take Amherst long to capitalize as Jake Barter, who was set up by Liam Conrad and Jordan King, fired a shot past Caps goaltender Rett Rook at the 25-second mark to give the Ramblers a record of 5-2-1-1 (won-lost-overtime losses-shootout losses). The Caps are 4-4-1-0.
“We are happy to get a point (for the overtime loss),” said McGuigan. “They are a good hockey club.”
Each team recorded 22 shots on goal.
With the Caps, who outlasted the Ramblers 8-6 at the Amherst Stadium on Saturday night, coming off a 6-2 loss to the Yarmouth Mariners on Tuesday night, McGuigan felt his team played with “better” structure against Amherst.
“We still have a little ways from where we were a week ago,” said McGuigan. “We will go back to the drawing board, and we’ve played a lot of hockey right now.
“It’s taxing on the guys, and we are a little tired. We will get a day’s rest (Thursday) and go back at it (Friday).”
The game’s three stars were:
1. Jake Barter (Ramblers), 2. Jesse Annear (Capitals), 3. Layton Parsons (Ramblers).
This weekend
The Capitals continue a busy week at home on Saturday, when the Pictou County Crushers (5-3-1-0) visit Eastlink Arena for a 7 p.m. start. Then on Sunday the Edmundston Blizzard (8-1-0-0), the second-ranked team in this week’s Canadian Junior A Hockey League rankings, travel to Summerside for a 6 p.m. start on Sunday.
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At A Glance
MHL Showcase schedule at Credit Union Place:
Wednesday’s Results
Valley 4 Campbellton 1.
South Shore 3 Woodstock 2 (OT).
St. Stephen 4 Yarmouth 2.
Edmundston 4 Truro 2.
Pictou County 3 Miramichi 2.
Amherst 3 Western Capitals 2 (OT).
Tuesday’s Results
Miramichi 4 Truro 1.
St. Stephen 2 Amherst 0.
Woodstock 5 Valley 2.
Pictou County 2 Edmundston 0.
South Shore 3 Campbellton 1.
Yarmouth 6 Western Capitals 2.
