The Summerside D. Alex MacDonald Ford Western Capitals’ winning streak may have ended at nine games Saturday night, but the top team in the MHL (Maritime Junior Hockey League) still managed to salvage a point.
The Capitals, who trailed 4-0 after one period, rallied to tie the game late in the third period in what turned out to be a 6-5 shootout loss to the Amherst Ramblers.
The Capitals’ record is now 28-5-1 (won-lost-overtime losses), good enough for a three-point lead over the Yarmouth Mariners (25-7-4) in the league’s overall standings. Yarmouth dropped back-to-back home games over the weekend – 6-3 to Amherst on Friday and 1-0 to Pictou County on Saturday.
Before 655 fans at the Amherst Stadium, Alex Lafreniere scored the only goal of the shootout to give the Ramblers the win. Will Lafford and Casey Fox also had opportunities for Amherst in the shootout. Summerside’s shooters were Kallum Muirhead, Brodie MacArthur and Dylan Riley.
Defenceman Michal Sivek, who the Ramblers acquired from the Caps in a Jan. 10 trade deadline deal, scored two goals and added an assist to lead the Ramblers (24-9-2). Lafford netted a pair of goals, and Stephen Fox was credited with Amherst’s other marker in regulation time. Dawson Grenier of Souris, Nick Snow (2), Cole Waugh, Casey Fox and Caleb Rich chipped in with assists.
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Pace Capitals
Brodie MacArthur, who extended his point streak to 15 games, and Jesse Annear each had a goal and two assists to pace the Capitals. MacArthur, who scored his 30th goal of the season, sits atop the league scoring race with 67 points in 34 regular-season games.
Muirhead (1-1), Riley (1-1) and Cam Roberts rounded out the Caps’ scoring. Jacob Arsenault added an assist.
The Caps netted the only two goals of the middle frame to cut Amherst’s lead in half – 4-2 – after 40 minutes. After the teams exchanged goals in the first minute of the third period, Roberts (7:38) and MacArthur (12:44) scored to tie the game 5-5.
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Joel Goguen earned the goaltending win over Dominik Tmej. Overall, the Capitals outshot the Ramblers 44-34 in regulation and overtime.
The game’s three stars were:
1. Will Lafford (Ramblers), 2. Michal Sivek (Ramblers), 3. Dylan Riley (Capitals).
The Capitals are back in action on Thursday, when the Grand Falls Rapids (9-18-5) provide the opposition at Eastlink Arena. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m.
