MIRAMICHI, New Brunswick – The Blizzard jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the second period and held off a Miramichi Timberwolves comeback to win 5-2 in front of a nice crowd of 1,669 at the Miramichi Civic Centre on Sunday afternoon.
The Eastlink North Division best-of-seven semi-final series of the Metalfab MHL Cup is now tied 1-1. Game number 3 will be played at the Jean-Daigle Centre in Edmundston on Wednesday (7:30 p.m.).
If the man-advantage was the Timberwolves’ favorite weapon in the first game, it was the Blizzard’s turn to flash with three power play goals.
First star of the game, Tristan Fortin set the tone for the Blizzard by scoring at 5:38 of the first period. Jérémy Duguay (3rd star) followed suit at 10:42 to give the Blizzard a 2-0 lead. Both goals in the period were scored on the power play.
At the beginning of the second period, Olivier Coulombe spined quickly on himself to put the puck behind goaltender Ryan Knight at 1:09 to make it 3-0 Blizzard. That goal would proved to be the game-winner, something Coulombe had managed to do 12 times during the regular season.
Then, the Blizzard were assessed an indiscipline penalty, which reenergized the Timberwolves who scored twice in a row thanks to Jacob Santerre (at 2:34 and 5:10; 2nd star).
In the third period, the Blizzard regained a two-goal lead (4-2) thanks to Tim Porter at 6:54. Captain Mitchell McLeod killed off the Wolves’ last hopes with a goal in an empty net.
The Blizzard unleashed 30 shots on Knight, who was particularly brilliant on Blizzard breakaways. Thomas Boucher was tested 23 times and also looked good for the second consecutive start.
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Photo
First star of the game, Tristan Fortin, had a goal and an assist. Photo archives Percy Picard
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Contact: Hugues Chiasson, vice-president communications – The Edmundston Blizzard; (506) 740-0623 – cell phone