All-you-can-eat buffet: Blizzard 8 Timberwolves 7

EDMUNDSTON, New Brunswick – After the first two low scoring games, it was to be expected that sooner or later the two most offensive teams in the league would have a scoring spree. And that’s what happened on Wednesday at the Jean-Daigle Centre when the Edmundston Blizzard won 8-7 with 8.5 seconds left in the first 10-minute overtime period.

The Blizzard takes a 2-1 lead in the Eastlink North Division best-of-seven semi-final series of the Metalfab MHL Cup. Game 4 will be played at the Miramichi Civic Centre on Friday (7:00 p.m.).

Evan Gass brought the crowd to their feet when he deflected a shot from Alex Arsenault who was initially awarded the winning goal. The Blizzard were enjoying a five-minute power play after a check from behind by a Timberwolves player.

Rarely has a game been played with so many turnovers. The two teams exchanged the lead eight times in the game. And the 15 goals in a single game is a record in a game involving the Blizzard.

Tristan Fortin (2g), Patrick LeBlanc (1g, 3a), Philippe Collette (1g, 1a), Marco Martin (1g, 1a), Evan Gass (overtime goal) Alex Arsenault (5a), and Noah Matulu (2a) all played a part in the Blizzard buffet.

Arsenault’s five assists are a Blizzard playoff record. He ties the team mark for most points in a game, a record he now shares with Alexandre Jacob, who had a goal and four assists in the final series in 2018.

Jeremy Duhamel (2g, 1a), Travis Badcock (2g), Daryk Dubé-Plouffe (1g, 4a), Jacob Santerre (1g, 2a) and Mason Beck (1g) replied for the Timberwolves.

Both goalies had a tough night at work. Ryan Knight of the Timberwolves faced 55 shots including 11 in overtime. Thomas Boucher was tested 33 times.

The special units once again played an important role. The Timberwolves scored four goals on five power plays while the Blizzard scored three times on five men-advantages.

Evan Gass (1st), Daryk Dubé-Plouffe (2nd) and Tristan Fortin (3rd) were named the stars of the game.

The Blizzard were without their star player Olivier Coulombe who was injured in a severe head-on collision with 6’6″ Reese Allen in the 13th minute of the first period. Coulombe did not return to the game, suffering from an apparent head injury. Allen left the ice on a stretcher after a 15-minute break. Fortunately, he came back to encourage his team near the Timberwolves bench towards the end of the game.

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Photo
Alex Arsenault was all over the ice on Wednesday. He had five assists, a playoff record for a Blizzard player. Photo Percy Picard

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Contact: Hugues Chiasson, vice-president communications – The Edmundston Blizzard; (506) 740-0623 – cell phone