EDMUNDSTON, N.B. – If the opening two acts are any indication, P.E.I. hockey fans should be in for a treat this week.
The Summerside D. Alex MacDonald Ford Western Capitals and Edmundston Blizzard are returning to the Prince County city all tied up 1-1 after splitting the first two games of the best-of-seven Eastlink North Division final series in MHL (Maritime Junior Hockey League).
The Capitals struck first with a 5-4 come-from-behind win in Game 1 on Saturday night, but the Blizzard built a three-goal lead before holding on for a 3-2 victory on Sunday evening. The scene now shifts to Eastlink Arena in Summerside for Games 3 and 4 on Tuesday and Wednesday, with a start time of 7 p.m. both days. With the first two games at the sold-out Centre Jean Daigle each drawing 2,803 fans, a big crowd is expected to welcome the Caps home.
Click here for series preview for Caps and Blizzard:
Blizzard 3 Capitals 2
Two goals 11 seconds apart by the Blizzard late in the first period proved to be the difference. Logan Johnston opened the scoring at 18:09, and Kyle Ward made it 2-0 at 18:20.
The score remained that way until Alexandre Jacob scored at 15:57 of the second period to extend Edmundston’s lead to 3-0.
Rookie Cameron Roberts, set up by first-year defenceman, Jordan Spence, got the Caps on the board and within 3-1 with 57 seconds to go before the second intermission.
Defenceman Brodie MacMillan’s goal at 7:37 of the third period brought the Caps to within 3-2, setting the stage for another nail-biting finish. TJ Shea and Brodie MacArthur, who extended his point streak to 43 games, assisted on MacMillan’s marker.
Pierre Bourgoin, Marc Gallie, Jeffrey Akerley, Alex Lavoie and Maxime Grandmaison set up Edmundston’s goals.
Francis Asselin earned the goaltending win with a 33-save effort. Dominik Tmej had a much busier night in the Caps’ goal as he faced 44 shots. The Blizzard outshot the Caps 20-7 in the first period and 16-13 in the second, but the Caps held a 15-8 advantage in the final 20 minutes.
The Blizzard was assessed four minors and one double minor for high sticking. The Caps were whistled for five minors.
The game’s three stars were:
1. Alexandre Jacob (Blizzard), 2. Dominik Tmej (Capitals), 3. Francis Asselin (Blizzard).
Chris Chaddock scored the winning goal in the final minute of regulation time to lift the Summerside D. Alex MacDonald Ford Western Capitals to a 5-4 road win over the Edmundston Blizzard on Saturday night. The Caps lead the best-of-seven Eastlink North Division final series 1-0.
Capitals 5 Blizzard 4
Chris Chaddock’s goal with 52 seconds remaining in regulation time broke a 4-4 tie, and lifted the Capitals to the thrilling victory.
The Caps never led until the final minute. The teams were tied 1-1 after the opening period, and the Blizzard opened up a 3-1 lead just before the halfway mark of the second period. However, the Caps answered back with two goals to tie the game before the second intermission.
The Blizzard went ahead 4-3 on Gabriel Vanier’s goal at 4:16 of the third period, but MacArthur’s power-play marker at 9:45 pulled the Caps even again. MacArthur finished with two goals and an assist.
Jesse Annear (1-1) and Roberts also lit the lamp for the Capitals. Spence, Shea, Kallum Muirhead, Riley Smith and Morgan MacDonald registered helpers.
Liam Leonard (2-1) and Vincent Rioux also found the back of the net for the Blizzard.
Tmej earned the goaltending win in relief of Alex Bishop, who allowed three goals on 28 shots in 29:03 action. Tmej stopped 17 of 18 shots over the final 30:57. Myles Hektor was between the pipes for the Blizzard. Both Tmej and Hektor made clutch saves with the score 4-4 to give their teams a chance to pull out the win.
Overall, the Blizzard outshot the Caps 46-24, including period advantages of 20-5, 12-10 and 14-9.
Eight of the game’s 14 minor penalties were called against the Blizzard.
The game’s three stars were:
1. Brodie MacArthur (Capitals), 2. Jesse Annear (Capitals), 3. Liam Leonard (Blizzard).
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