SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. — The Campbellton Tigers played a textbook playoff game on the road.
A 33-save shutout from Tristan Gray, a strong defensive game and timely scoring sparked the Tigers to a 2-0 win over the Summerside D. Alex MacDonald Ford Western Capitals in Game 1 in the best-of-seven Eastlink North Division final series on Saturday night.
“It was exactly what we expected,” said Capitals head coach Billy McGuigan. “It was a tight-checking game, they are a solid hockey team, they play good defence and we couldn’t capitalize.
“We played a decent game and had our chances, but Gray was outstanding in net. We have to get a little harder on their D.”
Click here for Caps-Tigers' series preview story:
Game 2 is in Campbellton, N.B., on Tuesday, with Game 3 in Summerside on Thursday. Both contests are 7 p.m. starts.
It was only the second time this season the Caps, who led the MHL (Maritime Junior Hockey League) with 247 goals in 50 regular-season games, have been shut out. The first time was also against the Tigers in Summerside – 5-0 on Feb. 16.
“For some unknown reason we have played four games here this year, and have played really well in every one,” said Tigers head coach Greg Leland. “It’s great building, a great atmosphere, and our guys seem to embrace it. We just play hard.
“That sounds simple, but sometimes that takes the place of Xs and Os. If you are diligent in what you do and look after the details of the game, more often than not it works out in your favour.”
Tigers forward Coleton Perry of North Bedeque did not dress for the series opener as he nurses an injury.
Leland said he expects Perry back for Game 2, and noted if Saturday had been Game 7 he would have been playing. Leland noted the final decision to rest Perry was made about three hours before game time.
Perry had 28 points, including 15 goals, in 46 regular-season games, recorded one goal and three assists for four points in the Tigers’ five-game series win over the Edmundston Blizzard in the division semfinal.
Click here for story on Tigers' Coleton Perry:
Game Recap
A recap of Game 1 between Caps and Tigers:
Final score – Tigers 2, Caps 0.
Scoring – Tigers: Dawson Stairs, Drew Toner.
Assists – Tigers: Dylan Coffey, Pierre-Luc Lurette, Pascal Valcourt, Sam Dow.
Period scores – 2-0 after the first and second periods in favour of the Tigers.
Shots on goal – 33-29 Tigers.
Goaltenders – Tigers: Tristan Gray; Caps: Dominik Tmej.
Power plays – Tigers: 1-for-4; Caps: 0-for-7.
Referees – Tim Hamel and Nolan Cornish.
Linesmen – Tanner Doiron and Ryan Reid.
Penalties – Tigers: four minors and one 10-minute misconduct; Caps: six minors, one 10-minute misconduct and one checking-from-behind game misconduct.
Three stars – 1. Tristan Gray (Tigers), 2. Dominik Tmej (Caps), 3. Dawson Stairs (Tigers).
Attendance – 2,021.
Goals
Before 2,021 fans at Eastlink Arena, Dawson Stairs opened the scoring on a great individual effort at 18:45. Stairs made a nifty move around a Caps defenceman and scored on a back-hander from just outside the goal crease’s blue paint past Caps goaltender Dominik Tmej high on the stick side.
A skirmish followed the goal, which resulted in the Tigers receiving a two-minute power play. Drew Toner capitalized at 19:40.
“It was a great play by Stairs, and that’s why he is one of the best players in the league for a young guy, 16-years-old,” said McGuigan. “He made an unbelievable play to get to the net and scored on a backhand.
“It was a tough play for our defenceman and it was a tough play for our goalie, but he made a nice play and scored a goal. That is what it is.
“Then we took an undisciplined penalty to follow that, and they scored on the power play. That is the way hockey goes, and we have to continue to stay focused.”
Click here for story on big crowds expected for Caps-Tigers' series:
Leland described Toner’s goal as “really key.” He also felt another important point in the game was the Tigers killing off a two-man Summerside power play for 33 seconds with just under 13 minutes left in the third period.
It looked like Cameron Roberts scored to put the Caps on the board late in the second period as he banged in a loose puck during a scramble in the crease, but referee Tim Hamel waved the goal off. There was no announcement made on why the goal was disallowed.
Despite the loss, McGuigan said there is no panic in the Caps’ dressing room.
“At the end of the day it’s a seven-game series,” he said. “We’ve been down this road a thousand times.
“We didn’t expect to sweep the series. We expect it to be a long, hard-fought series.
“They are a good team and if you don’t score goals you can’t win hockey games, and we went with none.”
McGuigan did note that the coaching staff assessed the Caps’ scoring opportunities during each intermission.
“We had some chances and good looks,” said McGuigan. “We have to do a little bit better job of getting to the dirty areas and getting to the net.
“There were lots of rebounds laying around, but (Gray) did an outstanding job kicking pucks out.
“Their D kept us to the outside and it’s not that we weren’t trying to get to the dirty areas, we were trying to get there, it’s just that they did a really good job defending us.”
[email protected]
Twitter.com/JpsportsJason
https://www.facebook.com/jason.simmonds.180