TRURO, Nova Scotia – The Edmundston Blizzard showed a lot of character in Truro on Saturday night. After taking a 2-0 lead, the Blizzard saw the Bearcats slowly climb back to build a 3-2 lead. But the Blizzard, with the amazing Coulombe-Arsenault-Duguay line, took matters into their own hands in the third period to finally prevail 5-4 in front of 902 spectators gathered at the Rath Eastlink Community Centre.
Olivier Coulombe achieved an unprecedented feat in Blizzard history, scoring three goals in a second game in a row. With 30 goals, he shares first place in the MHL with Marc Richard of Summerside. Coulombe (1st star) took advantage of a power play 12:18 into the third period to score his ninth game-winning goal of the season, an MHL high.
Alex Arsenault (2nd star) also had quite a game with four assists. He has collected four points in three of his last four games. Their linemate, Jérémy Duguay, was also brilliant getting one goal and two assists.
Tristan Fortin scored the goal that tied the game at 4-4 at 9:43 of the last bout. An important goal at a crucial time.
Landon Miron (third star), twice, Merle Putnam and Tanner Humber-Dredge beat Thomas Boucher who redeemed his mistake late in the game when the Bearcats received a penalty shot after the goaltender had moved (deliberately according to the officials) his net with less than two minutes left in the game. The dangerous Carter McCluskey took the penalty shot but Boucher made the save.
Edmundston fired 35 pucks at Connor Martin, while Truro took 31 shots.
HockeyTV Bearcats announcer James Faulkner called it the most exciting game to be played in Truro this season.
The Blizzard (24-11-0-1) have won their last six meetings and 18 of their last 19 games. And Coulombe extended his streak to 21 games with at least one point.
Even if everything is going well for the Blizzard, the next two games will not be easy because they will face back-to-back the Summerside Western Capitals (21-10-1-0), next Friday and Saturday. Both games will be presented at 7:30 p.m. at the Jean-Daigle Centre.
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Photo
Thomas Boucher makes a miraculous save on this sequence in the second period. The Blizzard goaltender won 14 of his 15 games this season. (Photo James Faulkner)
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Contact: Hugues Chiasson, vice-president communications – The Edmundston Blizzard; (506) 740-0623 – cell phone