Edmundston defeat Chaleur for a 2-0 series lead
The Edmundston Blizzard continued their winning ways on Thursday night with a 4-2 win in Bathurst over the Chaleur Lightning for a 2-0 lead in the Eastlink North Division Final. Michael Arsenault’s fifth goal of the Metalfab MHL Cup playoffs opened the scoring at 9:41 of the 1st period, and Émile Fournier made it 2-0 for Edmundston just eight seconds later.
After no goals were scored in the 2nd period, William Labranche made it 3-0 for Edmundston at 10:36 of the 3rd period. Chaleur would chip away at the lead as David Lebel scored at 12:46 and Jack Hayne made it 3-2 at 16:11. But that’s as close as the Lightning would get as Michael Derbidge found the empty net with three seconds left to make it a 4-2 final for the Blizzard.
Cedric Massé was busy, making 36 saves for the win, while Jack Flanagan had 21 saves in the loss for Chaleur. Game 3 is back in Edmundston on Saturday.
Truro opens Eastlink South Division Final with OT win in Summerside
Waiting to play for nearly two weeks, the Truro Bearcats picked up a 2-1 overtime win in Summerside to open the Eastlink South Division Final.
Callum Aucoin opened the scoring at 6:42 of the 2nd period, and that nearly stood as the game-winner, but a late powerplay for Summerside gave them a chance. Eliott Robert scored at 19:30 with the goaltender pulled to send the game to overtime. In the extra frame, Aucoin scored his second goal of the night, and eighth of the playoffs, to give Truro the victory.
Sam Berthiaume made 29 saves for the Bearcats in the win, while Kolten Bourret made 31 in the loss. Game 2 is Saturday night in Truro.