FREDERICTON, N.B. – For the third time in five years, the Edmundston Blizzard managed to register a five-point weekend following a 4-3 shootout loss in Fredericton against the Red Wings on Sunday afternoon.
It was the third game in less than 72 hours for the Blizzard who still sits second in the MHL’s Eastlink North Division with a 16-7-1-2 record. With 35 points, they lead the Wings by a meager point (16-7-2-0).
Sunday, it was not until the 18th shooter (9th round) in the breakaways before knowing a winner. Andrew Gweon put an end to the suspense.
The game was a gem. Every time the Red Wings took the lead, the Blizzard responded.
The local team took the lead early in the game (1:35) thanks to Slava Melikov (13th). Noah Gibbs (11th) tied the game at 13:50 of the second period, but Sasha Charbonneau (6th) restored a goal priority to the Wings at 14:41.
The two teams traded three goals in the third. Matthew Beaty took advantage of a brilliant turnover in the neutral zone from Tristan Therrien to score his first goal in a Blizzard uniform, tying the game at 4:54. Declan MacEachern (8th) then broke the tie at 11:59, before affiliate player Noah Matulu (2nd) sent both teams back to square one again at 12:21.
Both goalies were outstanding. Raphaël Audet (28 saves) and Mathias Savoie (32 saves) often stood out in the encounter. Savoie earned the first star, Audet the second and Gweon (winning goal in the shootout) the third.
The Blizzard will rest for a few days before its matchup against the Miramichi Timberwolves on Wednesday (7:30 p.m.) at the Jean-Daigle Centre.
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Photo
Raphaël Audet had an excellent game on Sunday, earning the second star. Photo archives Percy Picard
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Contact: Hugues Chiasson, vice-president communications – The Edmundston Blizzard; (506) 740-0623 – cell phone