SUMMERSIDE, PEI – A three-goal surge in the first period was enough for the Summerside Western Capitals to beat the Edmundston Blizzard 3-1 in front of 1,299 spectators gathered at the Credit Union Place in Summerside.
Brendan McCarthy (10th), Marc Richard (23rd) and Thomas Lacombe (26th) put the puck past Simon Couroux during the initial period. The Blizzard rallied well afterwards but couldn’t capitalize enough on the power plays they got especially with three minutes remaining in the third frame when they had a two-men advantage.
Tristan Fortin (23rd) was the only one to beat goalkeeper Félix Anthony-Ethier, the first star of the game.
The Capitals led 31-26 in shots. Goalkeeper Raphaël Audet relieved Couroux in the 17th minute of the second period.
With a win on Saturday, the Campbellton Tigers are guaranteed to finish second in the Eastlink North Division. The race for third position continues between Fredericton and Edmundston contrary to what was announced by the Western Capitals play-by-play commentator who said there will be a confrontation between Summerside and Edmundston in the first round of the playoffs.
Fredericton has two games to play and Edmundston one before the end of the regular season. If Edmundston wins or gets a point Sunday at Amherst (2 p.m.) and Fredericton loses both games, the Blizzard will finish third. If Fredericton wins one of its two games (against Grand Falls on Sunday and Yarmouth on Monday), the Red Wings will finish in third place. If Fredericton gets just one point in its two games and the Blizzard wins tomorrow, the Wings would finish fourth.
– 30 –
Photo
Tristan Fortin scored his 23rd goal of the season Saturday in Summerside. Photo archives Percy Picard
– 30 –
Contact: Hugues Chiasson, vice-president communications – The Edmundston Blizzard; (506) 740-0623 – cell phone