EDMUNDSTON, New Brunswick – Hostilities are underway.
In a hard-fought game punctuated by 122 penalty minutes, the Blizzard staged another spectacular comeback to triumph over the Miramichi Timberwolves 5-3 on Friday evening before 2,467 fans at the Jean-Daigle Centre, who turned out in force despite the all-day snow in the Northwest and didn’t want to miss this game which, in a way, was a prelude to the playoffs.
Forward Jérémy D’Astous was the hero of the evening with a goal and three assists. Raphaël Denis (1g, 2a), Will Allen (2a) and Carl-Anthony Massé also scored for the Blizzard (43-6-1-1), who set a season-high 88 points. Darien Thomson added two assists in the win.
Despite a late arrival in Edmundston due to poor road conditions, the Timberwolves team prevailed in the first half of the game, taking a 3-0 lead into the fourth minute of the middle period.
Defenseman Caleb Van De Ven (14th and 15th) gave the visitors a 2-0 lead in the first. The Timberwolves seemed to have the Blizzard on the ropes when Cael MacDonald (17th) made it 3-0 at 4:22 of the second period.
As if by magic, the Blizzard shook off their torpor by scoring three consecutive goals in a span of 2 minutes and 30 seconds. Raphaël Denis (11th) at 13:49, Will Allen (20th) at 15:14 and Carl-Anthony Massé (23rd) at 16:19 finally broke through the wall of Mathis Lafontaine, who had been having a terrific game in front of the Timberwolves’ cage.
It all came down to the third period when Jeremy D’Astous (29th) scored the winner on the power play at 9:05. D’Astous added a fourth point a minute later with an assist on Will Allen’s second goal (21st) of the night.
Shortly after conceding a fourth goal, Lafontaine was replaced by Jack Flanagan in front of the Wolves net. The latter was beaten on the first shot he faced.
Frédéric Cousineau was the Blizzard keeper. He only faced 15 Timberwolves shots. The Blizzard were merciless to the visitors’ two goalkeepers, firing 51 shots, including 23 in the second period.
D’Astous (1st), Denis (2nd) and Allen (3rd) earned the stars of the game.
While the Timberwolves (26-24-0-2) have concluded their regular season, the Blizzard will bring theirs to a close on Sunday when they host the Campbellton Tigers (26-18-4-2) at 3 p.m.
Next week, the Blizzard (1st) and Timberwolves (4th) face off in the first game of the Eastlink North semi-final series. The other series will feature West Kent (2nd) and Campbellton (3rd).
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Photo
Jérémy D’Astous reacts after scoring Blizzard’s 4th goal in the third period. Photo Percy Picard
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Source: Hugues Chiasson, communications co-ordinator – Edmundston Blizzard – 506 740-0623 – (cell.)