On that pic, Francis Asselin shut the door to Brady Griffin-Hefford, the second Rambler to go in the shootout frame. Asselin stole the show from the third period until the end of the game. Photo Olivier Chiasson.
EDMUNDSTON, New Brunswick – If it was possible to add a description to better define the word “incredible”, we would have to use an expression containing the name “Blizzard”…
The Edmundston Blizzard erased a 3-0 deficit on Friday night at the Jean-Daigle Centre to gradually climb the slope and win 4 to 3 in shootouts against the Amberts Ramblers literally stunned.
A total of 2,406 spectators attended this superb comeback. Logan Johnston, the Blizzard’s third player to go in the shootouts was the only one to find the back of the net.
Despite Blizzard’s full domination in the first ten minutes of play, the Ramblers were the first to score. Taking advantage of two succesive power plays, the visitors scored at 10:15 (Bradley Dawe), then at 14:27 (Brady Griffin-Hefford).
Towards the end of the second period, defenseman Luas Sangster fired a shot from the point that fooled goalkeeper Francis Asselin of the Blizzard. It was 3-0 Ramblers with 2:44 left in the period. The Blizzard’s comeback began with a shot by defender Alex lavoie, a goal that gave hope to the Blizzard who retreated to the dressing room with a two-goal deficit. But more of anything it allowed the Blizzard players to be convinced that the opposing goalie was beatable.
The Blizzard started the third period with a lot of enthusiasm. The Ramblers seemed to lack legs. By displaying constant pressure in the offensive zone, it finaly paid off for the Blizzard. Logan Johnston deflected a shot from Alexandre Jacob at 6:25, allowing the locals to come close to a goal from the Ramblers (3-2). Maxime Grandmaison then tied the score to 3 at 8:04 with an acurate wrist shot. The crowd, delirious, no longer needed music to cheer… It was so noisy at certain points that the roof of the Jean-Daigle Centre was ready to explose.
Midway through the third, however, the Blizzard took bad penalties and it almost cost the team the victory. At one time, the Blizzard ended up with two players in the penalty box, the first for a minor penalty and the second for a minor penalty plus a major penalty. But the Ramblers could not capitalized. They could not score during a two-minute 5 on 3 and a full five-minute 5 on 4. The Ramblers seemed to lack cohesion and energy. It is from that moment that Francis Asselin took over, multiplying key stops.
Same scenario at the beginning of the extra time when Maxime Grandmaison got a major penalty for checking from behind. Playing for the rest of the overtime shorthanded (4 on 3), the Blizzard and Asselin managed to shut down the Ramblers offense. And Asselin stood up by stopping the three shooters he faced during the shootout showdown.
Friday’s outcome between the two teams is strangely the same as the Blizzard’s home opener on September 29. Trailing 3-0 in the third, the Blizzard was able to tie the score before winning 4-3 in overtime.
QUICK NOTES – The Blizzard outshot the Ramblers 38-29… Alexandre Jacob had an outstanding game with two assists and some impressive defensive plays… Logan Johnston’s two goals allowed him to take the lead in the team’s scoring with 27 points (9-18), two more than Kyle Ward, who joined Rouyn-Noranda, and Alexandre Jacob… Johnston is fifth in the league’s the scoring column of the league… The newcomer Mathieu Blanchard impressed with his speed and determination. He almost scored on a few occasions. He certainly shone on his junior hockey debut… The Blizzard will visit the Campbellton Tigers on Saturday, November 25 at 7:30 pm. The two teams will play against each other the next day (Sunday) at 3 pm at the Jean-Daigle Centre in Edmundston… Nothing seems to bother the Tigers, who won an eighth consecutive game on Friday, a convincing 5-1 win against the Woodstock Slammers.
– 30 –
Contact: Hugues Chiasson, vice-president communications – The Edmundston Blizzard; (506) 740-0623 – cell phone