After being shutout 3-0 in Game 1, the Campbellton Tigers were determined to pick up a split in Yarmouth before heading back home for the next three games in the Canadian Tire Cup Final. The Mariners had other ideas, however, and came from behind to pick up a 2-1 victory to take the first two games of the series.
The Tigers had a number of quality scoring chances early in the first period, but Mariners goaltender Tyler Caseley continued his stellar play to keep Campbellton off the board. Then at 14:40, a turnover in the slot by the Mariners put the puck on the stick of Kyle Petten who wired a shot top shelf to give the Tigers their first goal and first lead of the series at 1-0. It would be short-lived though as Jonathan Rees fired a shot just inside the Campbellton zone from along the boards which appeared to deflect off the stick of Brendan Bornstein up and over Tigers goaltender Tristan Gray at 17:41 to tie the game 1-1.
Dylan Coffey nearly gave Campbellton the lead back around the midway point of the 2nd period as a backhand shot beat Caseley but rang off the post. Neither team would find the net in the middle frame and once again the teams would head to the dressing room with a 1-1 score. Shots to this point were tied at 19.
The teams traded scoring chances to start the 3rd period. The Mariners would take a 2-1 lead at 7:58 as Noah McMullin snapped a shot around the faceoff circle that once again went up and over Gray. The Tigers would pull their goaltender with 1:14 to go, but strong defensive play from the Mariners would finish off a 2-1 victory and a 2-0 series lead for Yarmouth as the series shifts to Campbellton.
Game 3 goes Thursday night at 7 p.m. at the Campbellton Memorial Civic Centre. The series is going by the 2-3-2 format, instead of alternating home games. As such, Campbellton will also host Game 4 on Friday and Game 5, if necessary, on Sunday, April 21st. The winner of the Canadian Tire Cup Final will advance to the Fred Page Cup in Amherst, joining the host Ramblers and the champions of both the CCHL and LHJQ.