BATHURST, N.B. – The Chaleur Lightning recorded their fourth win in five games this season against the Edmundston Blizzard with a 6-2 victory on Friday night at the K.C. Irving Centre in Bathurst.
The game was closer than the score indicates, as the Lightning’s last two goals were scored into an empty net.
After a scoreless first period, the home team stormed Cédric Massé’s net, scoring three goals in the second period to take a comfortable 3-0 lead, which seemed to knock out Michael Ward’s squad. However, they managed to come back and narrow the score to 4-2 with 12 minutes left in the third period.
Zachary Rushton (13th and 2 assists), David Lebel (11th and 1 assist), Ben Cross (21st and 1 assist), Sam Rocca (2nd), Jean-Christophe Gemme (2nd), and Jack Hayne (11th) scored for the Lightning (17-9-0-1), who maintain their lead at the top of the Eastlink North Division, three points ahead of the Grand Falls Rapids (15-12-2-0).
Darien Thomson (17th) and Noah Breau (8th) beat goalie George Foti, who faced 33 shots, including 19 in the third period. Although he was overlooked in the game’s all-star selection, goalie Cédric Massé stole the show. He allowed four goals on 45 shots, including 24 in the second period. Massé had to shine repeatedly to stop the opposing threats.
The Blizzard’s supporting players had an excellent game, notably Nicolas Dubé, Benjamin Damphousse (1a) and newcomer Jacob Veilleux, who was playing his first junior game of his career.
Lebel (1st), Rushton (2nd) and Hayne (3rd) were named the stars of the game.
The Blizzard (13-11-1-2) will face off against the Nova Scotia team of the Valley Wildcats (6-21-0-0) on Saturday, December 6 (7:30 p.m.) at the Jean-Daigle Centre.
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Photo
Forward Nicolas Dubé had an excellent game on Friday in Bathurst. Photo archives Percy Picard
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Source: Hugues Chiasson, communications – Edmundston Blizzard (506) 253-7741