Bearcats downed Crushers 5-1, gain 3-0 series lead
The Truro Bearcats lead their Eastlink South Division Semi-Final with the Pictou County Weeks Crushers 3-0 after a 5-1 win in game 3 at the Rath Eastlin Community Centre.
The Crushers got on the board first at 6:45 of the 1st period with a goal from Ben Wallace. Pictou County outshot Truro 20-6 in the 1st period and continued their dominant play through most of the 2nd period, but couldn’t add to their lead. Drew Keiver, back in the Truro lineup after missing the first two games of the series, went 1-on-5 into the Pictou County zone and tied the game at 18:06.
Truro took a 2-1 lead at 6:22 of the 3rd period on a goal from Jace Evans. After a major penalty against the Crushers, the Bearcats scored twice during the five-minute powerplay with goals at 8:12 from Callum Aucoin and Keiver at 10:02. Éli Baillargeon scored an empty-netter at 17:50 to seal the win.
Sam Berthiaume continued to shine in this series, making 43 saves in the victory and was named the game’s 1st Star. George Gallant, getting his first start of the series, made 24 saves in the loss. Game 4 is back at the Pictou County Wellness Centre on Thursday.
Two Blizzard players notch hat tricks to beat Steamers 9-4
The Edmundston Blizzard have a 2-0 lead in their Eastlink North Division Semi-Final after a 9-4 win at Centre Jean Daigle over West Kent.
The teams traded goals in the 1st period. Eliott Guenette put the home side up 1-0 at 4:59 with a powerplay goal, but Tyler Wood tied things up with a goal at 7:09. The Blizzard regained the lead at 13:57 with a goal from Michael Arsenault. West Kent answered quickly, as Sam Bowness scored 30 seconds later to send the teams to the dressing room tied at 2.
The Steamers took their first lead of the night at 1:31 on a goal from Olivier Leblanc. Edmundston didn’t let that stand for long, with goals at 2:11 from William Labranche and François-Xavier Mercier at 2:38. Arsenault’s second goal of the game at 9:11 made it a 5-3 lead for Edmundston. Pierre-Marc Minville cut the lead to 5-4 at 11:00, but Labranche restored the two-goal lead at 16:17.
Mercier scored his second of the night at 3:26 to give the Blizzard a 7-4 lead. Labranche completed his hat trick at 6:29, and Labranche got his third goal of the night at 15:22 to make the final 9-4.
Cedric Massé made 22 saves for the win, but was replaced by Olivier St-Onge for the final six minutes of the game. Xavier Farrah made 32 saves in the loss. Game 3 is Thursday in Grand-Bouctouche.