EDMUNDSTON, New Brunswick – A power play goal by Jeremy Duhamel with 37 seconds left in the 10-minute overtime period set the stage for a 4-3 win by the Miramichi Timberwolves on Friday night at a loud Jean-Daigle Centre.
Although a bigger scoring explosion was expected, the fans were treated to a true playoff game that was hard fought. The Timberwolves took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven Eastlink North Division semi-final series of the Metalfab MHL Cup. The second game will be played at the Miramichi Civic Centre on Sunday at 3:30 p.m.
The Blizzard opened the scoring at 7:43 with a nice deflection from Philippe Collette who was coming off a few games with the Acadie-Bathurst Titan of the QMJHL. The Timberwolves tied the game at 16:57 thanks to Daryk Dubé-Plouffe’s goal.
The Timberwolves showed some character in the second period after surviving four Blizzard power plays. They even managed to score with the one-man advantage thanks to Félix Landry at 8:49.
Trailing 2-1 to start the third, the Blizzard found their groove on offense. Alex Arsenault tied the score 2-2 at 9:56. Then Olivier Coulombe lifted the crowd by giving the Blizzard a 3-2 lead at 13:25. But the Timberwolves never gave up. They pulled their goalie with two minutes left in favor of a sixth player, and it paid off. Landry scored his second of the night at 18:26 to tie the game at 3-3 and force overtime.
Landry earned the first star of the game. The others went to Blizzard defenseman Brandon Casey (one assist, 2nd star) and Coulombe (3rd star), also of the Blizzard.
Both goalies played up to their reputations. Ryan Knight of the Timberwolves faced 43 shots, while Thomas Boucher was tested 30 times.
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Photo
Defenseman Brandon Casey had a great game for the Blizzard. He earned the second star of the game. Photo Percy Picard
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Contact: Hugues Chiasson, vice-president communications – The Edmundston Blizzard; (506) 740-0623 – cell phone