EDMUNDSTON, New Brunswick – A three-goal outburst in the third period, including Félix Bédard’s 31st and 32nd goals, was enough for the Edmundston Blizzard to dispose of the Campbellton Tigers 4-1 on Thursday evening at the Jean-Daigle Centre.
With this eighth consecutive win, the Blizzard became the first Maritime Junior A Hockey League team to secure a playoff berth.
The game remained tied at 1-1 until the start of the third period. That’s when Félix Bédard took matters into his own hands. First, he scored the winning goal at 7:33. He scored again less than five minutes later on the power play at 13:24. Carl-Anthony Massé, with his fifth goal in as many games, delivered the coup de grace at 17:22.
After a scoreless first period, Jérémy Ste-Marie put the Blizzard ahead with his 15th goal of the campaign at 7:29 of the second. But Jett McCullum replied for the Tigers at 9:14.
With two assists, Philippe Collette (2nd star) extended his streak of games with at least one point to 12. Defenseman Alexis Jacques earned third star honors.
The work of the Blizzard defensive units was the turning point of the match. The Tigers (14-23-1-0) were helpless on five power plays. They were held in check during a two-minute 5-on-3 in the middle of the second frame.
Goaltender Nicholas Sheehan earned a 23rd win in front of the Blizzard cage, one shy of Francis Asselin’s record 24 set in the Blizzard’s first season in Edmundston in 2017-2018. Sheehan faced 20 shots in the win. Ben Williams was tested 34 times in front of the Tigers’ net.
The Blizzard (30-9-1-0) became the first MHL team to reach the 30-win plateau. With 61 points, they now trail the West Kent Steamers by five points. The Steamers, however, have a game in hand. Edmundston is now just one point behind the overall leaders, the Summerside Western Capitals (27-5-3-5).
Simon Olivier’s team will enjoy a day off on Friday before taking a five-hour trip to the Nova Scotia border to face the Amherst Ramblers on Saturday (7 p.m.).
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Photo
Félix Bédard had his sixth consecutive game of two points or more on Thursday night. Photo Percy Picard
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Contact: Hugues Chiasson, vice-president communications – The Edmundston Blizzard; (506) 740-0623 – cell phone