SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. — The Summerside D. Alex MacDonald Ford Western Capitals’ winning streak is over at nine games.
A big reason for that is Miramichi Timberwolves goaltender Olivier Charbonneau. All Charbonneau did was turn in a 52-save performance through regulation time and the five-minute overtime period and did not allow a goal in the shootout as the Timberwolves rallied from a 3-0 deficit to edge the Caps 4-3 on Thursday night.
The Caps, who sit atop the 12-team Maritime Junior Hockey League’s overall standings, fell to 33-5-2 (won-lost-overtime losses) while the Timberwolves improved to 11-25-4. It was Miramichi’s first win against Summerside in five regular-season meetings.
Before 1,205 fans at Eastlink Arena, the teams played a scoreless first period and the Caps struck for three unanswered goals in the first 5:20 of the second period. The Timberwolves answered right back with two goals 1:10 apart to cut the lead to 3-2 after 40 minutes.
Ryan Penney’s goal at 7:49 of the third period tied the game and forced a scoreless extra period.
In the shootout, Charles Andre Cypihot and Charlottetown native Connor McGregor scored for the Timberwolves while the Caps’ Josh MacDonald and Carson MacKinnon were unable to light the lamp behind Charbonneau.
Felix Antoine Levesque and Jacob Evans also scored for the Timberwolves.
MacKinnon, Colby MacArthur and Marc-Andre LeCouffe found the back of the net for the Caps, who were ranked second in this week’s Canadian Junior Hockey League’s top-20 rankings. League scoring leader Brodie MacArthur, with his 50th assist of the season, Zach Biggar, Riley MacDougall, Brodie MacMillan, Isaac Wilson and Ed McNeill added helpers.
Overall, the Caps outshot the Timberwolves 55-24, including period advantages of 12-8, 22-8, 19-8 and 2-0 in overtime. Alec MacVicar was in goal for the Capitals.
The game’s three stars were:
1. Olivier Charbonneau (Timberwolves), 2. Marc Richard (Caps), 3. Connor McGregor (Timberwolves).
The Capitals are back in action on Friday at 7 p.m. in Campbellton, N.B., against the Tigers (19-13-5) in what could be a first-round playoff preview. The Caps are back on the road Sunday to Fredericton, N.B., to take on the Red Wings (23-14-3) at 3 p.m.
