FREDERICTON, New Brunswick – Never in its short history has the Edmundston Blizzard erased a four-goal deficit to emerge as the winner. Well, the Blizzard did that Friday night in the province capital with a 5-4 shootout win over the Fredericton Red Wings.
Blizzard players had fresh in their memories the loss suffered the day before in Summerside in the same circumstances. But Friday, Edmundston intended to shake its lethargy in shootout. It was only the second time on nine occasions this season that Edmundston had won in the breakaway shots. Friday, Brock McLeod and Tristan Gagnon both shook the ropes to give the Blizzard its 31st victory of the campaign.
Blizzard supporters saw all kinds of things during this contest. First, the incredible come from behind. Trailing 4-0, Alex Arsenault (17th) woke up his teammates at 7:20 of the second period. Arsenault’s goal allowed him to tie the record for the most goals in a season by a Blizzard rookie. Maxime Grandmaison held the record since the original season in 2017-2018.
Then, Chrystopher Collin (36th and 37th) baffled the opposing defense with two goals at 11:59 and 19:16. The score was 4-3 in Wings’ favor after two periods. But the hopes were in the Blizzard’s camp. Captain Tristan Gagnon (20th) made it 4-4 at the start of the third frame (1:32) and the two teams stayed deadlock until the shootout.
Behind the goal scorers hides Brock McLeod and Evan White who controlled the pace. They ended the evening with three assists each.
In the final moments of regulation time, Chad Wilson was a few centimeters away of putting an end to the game, but his one-timer was repelled sharply by goalkeeper Jack Grant.
After a shaky start, Blizzard’s goalie Antoine Lyonnais stood up for the last 38 minutes of play blocking everything he saw. The Red Wings led 38-32 in shots.
The game was interrupted for about 30 minutes with seven minutes to go in the third when a glass exploded into a thousand pieces following a hard check served by Chrystopher Collin on a Red Wings player.
This win will feel great for the Blizzard with only four games left in the regular season. Edmundston (31-9-7-0) will head back home preparing to face the Miramichi Timberwolves next Wednesday (7:30 pm) at the Jean-Daigle Centre.
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Photo
For the second time since joining the Blizzard, Evan White had three assists in one game. In 15 games with Edmundston, he totals 19 points. With Fredericton and Edmundston this year, he has 51 points, the highest total by a defenseman in the MHL. Photo archives Digiphoto sports.
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Source: Hugues Chiasson, vice-president communications – The Edmundston Blizzard; (506) 740-0623 – cell phone