BATHURST, N.B. – Completely neutralized in six power plays, the Edmundston Blizzard lost 6-3 to the Chaleur Lightning at the K.C. Irving Regional Centre in Bathurst on Friday night.
This loss dashes any hopes the Blizzard had of finishing first in the Eastlink North Division. At best, they could finish second if they win on Saturday and the Grand Falls Rapids lose in regulation time on Sunday.
Hunter Hood (1st), Zachary Rushton (24th), Sam Rocca (12th), David Lebel (13th), Brett Yuzik (13th, shorthanded), and Ben Cross (41st, into an empty net) scored for the Chaleur Lightning, which moved within one point of the Blizzard.
Eliott Guenette (13th), Noah Larochelle (18th), and Michael Arsenault (19th) replied for the Blizzard, who outshot the Lightning 28-27.
Despite playing short of a player six times, the Lightning threatened on several occasions, even scoring their fifth goal shorthanded 12 minutes into the third period.
After 40 minutes of play, the Lightning had built a 4-1 lead.
Cédric Massé (Blizzard) and Jack Flanagan (Lightning) were the two goalies.
Victorious yesterday, the West Kent Steamers (30-14-4-3 = 67 pts) remain at the top of the Northern Division standings, one point ahead of the Grand Falls Rapids (30-15-5-1 = 66 pts). The Blizzard (29-16-3-3 = 64 pts) and the Chaleur Lightning (30-18-2-1 = 63 pts) bring up the rear. The top four teams have only one game left to play before the end of the regular season. The Rapids could finish in first place if they beat West Kent on Sunday, whether it’s a win in regulation or overtime/shootout. Chaleur could overtake the Blizzard with a win at home against Miramichi on Saturday and a loss by Edmundston in regulation on Saturday.
The top two teams in each division will enjoy home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs. The Blizzard will wrap up their regular season schedule on Saturday when they host the Campbellton Tigers (15-28-6-2) at 7:30 p.m.
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Photo
Eliott Guenette scored a beautiful goal in the second period to tie the game 1-1 for the Blizzard against the Lightning on Friday. Photo archives Percy Picard.
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Source: Hugues Chiasson, communications – Edmundston Blizzard (506) 253-7741