SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. — Simply put, the Summerside D. Alex MacDonald Ford Wester Capitals are in a deep hole.
And there is no more room for error.
The Campbellton Tigers defeated the Caps 3-2 on Saturday night to take a commanding 3-1 lead in the best-of-Eastlink North Division final series. The Caps, who rallied from a 3-1 deficit against the Tigers in the opening round of the 2016 MHL (Maritime Junior Hockey League) playoffs, are hoping history repeats itself.
The Caps, who have dropped Games 1 and 3 on home ice by identical 2-0 scores, face a must-win situation at Eastlink Arena in Game 5 on Monday. Fans are asked to note the later-than-normal start time of 8 p.m.
Suspensions coming
Game 4, which was played before 2,610 fans at the Campbellton Memorial Civic Centre, ended with an incident that could result in both teams missing key players to suspensions for Game 5.
At the 20-minute mark of the third period, the Caps’ Kallum Muirhead was assessed a match penalty for cross-checking and team captain TJ Shea received a fighting major and double game misconduct. Tigers goaltender Tristan Gray, who has stopped 110 of 116 shots he's faced in the first four games, was called for leaving the crease and a high-sticking major penalty. It was originally listed Gray received a match penalty. Campbellton defenceman Francis Thibeault, who was named the league’s top defenceman in the regular season, picked up a fighting major and game misconduct.
Offensively
Offensively, Jared Janke and Dawson Stairs proved to be too much for the Caps to handle. Janke scored both Campbellton goals, and Stairs drew the only assist on each tally.
Janke opened the scoring at 14:03 of the first period, and made it 2-0 at 5:18 of the second period. Noah Massie scored an unassisted goal at 7:03 of the second period to bring the Caps to within 2-1 after 40 minutes.
Drew Toner’s goal 4:29 into the third period restored the Tigers’ two goal, and TJ Shea’s power-play goal at 7:19 closed out the game’s scoring. Brodie MacArthur set up Shea’s goal.
Logan Kelly-Murphy of China Point, P.E.I., and Charles-William assisted on Toner’s game-winning marker.
Overall, the Tigers held a slight 35-34 shots-on-goal advantage. Gray earned the goaltending win over Dominik Tmej.
A big storyline in the game was the Tigers’ penalty killing, which killed off six of seven Caps’ power plays. The Tigers were 1-for-3 with the man advantage.
Both teams have struggled on the power play in the series – the Caps are 2-for-16 in the first four games while the Tiers are 2-for-17.
The Tigers were assessed 11 of the game’s 18 minor penalties.
The game’s three stars were:
1. Tristan Gray (Tigers), 2. Jared Janke (Tigers), 3. Dawson Stairs (Tigers).