EDMUNDSTON, New Brunswick – The return to Jean-Daigle Centre was not beneficial to the Edmundston Blizzard who suffered a fifth straight loss in regulation, a 4-2 setback against the Campbellton Tigers on Sunday afternoon.
In that streak too forget, it was a fourth straight loss against the Campbellton Tigers, which they will fortunately face only two more times before the end of the regular season.
The Blizzard had suffered five consecutive losses, including two in regulation time, during the 2018-19 season. On Sunday, Edmundston played well overeall, outshooting Campbellton 42-21.
With a 1-0 lead, following the goal by Cole Stewart at 12:24 of the first period, the Blizzard had the momentum, especially as the Tigers took a five-minute major penalty towards the end of the second period.
The third period proved fatal for the Blizzard, however, when the Tigers scored four times on four shots. In the first five minutes, the Tigers woke up to scoring their first two goals while they were shorthanded. These goals were scored by Thomas Freel (at 2:07) and Josh Crooks (4:58). Shortly after, at 7:35, Freel scored his second goal of the game, beating Marc-Antoine Bérubé-Jalbert. Andrew Bruder gave the Blizzard hope when he found the back of the net behind Tristan Gray at 15:15. Crooks put the final touch in an empty net at 19:27.
The Tigers (11-9-0-1 – 23pts) are on an exceptional roll of eight consecutive wins. With their victory on Sunday, they moved up to second place in the Eastlink Nord division, two points behind the leaders, the Grand Falls Rapids (10-4-2-3). Campbellton is ahead of Edmundston (10-7-0-2) and Miramichi (10-7-2-0) who total 22 points each.
The Blizzard will have to return to the drawing board in practice this week to shake off their slump as the next weekend is shaping up to be as demanding. First stop in Campbellton on Friday (7 p.m.), followed by games in Fredericton on Saturday (7 p.m.) and in Grand Falls on Sunday (3 p.m.).
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Photo
With a goal and an assist, Cole Stewart earned the second star in Sunday’s game . Photo Percy Picard
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Contact: Hugues Chiasson, Edmundston Blizzard vice-president communications; (506) 740-0623 – cell phone