EDMUNDSTON, New Brunswick – The Miramichi Timberwolves took a 1-0 lead in the best of seven series final of the Eastlink Northern Division of the Metalfab MHL Cup when they beat the Blizzard 3-2 on Saturday evening in front of 2,826 spectators gathered at the Jean-Daigle Centre.
More opportunistic, the Timberwolves took a 3-0 lead early in the third period. The Blizzard charged back, but it was too little, too late. They ran out of time.
Hugo Audet (2nd at 8:42 of the 1st), Cole Foston (4th, at 13:36 of the 2nd) and Owen Graham (1st, at 3:19 of the 3rd) took turns finding the back of the net behind Nicholas Sheehan.
Félix Bédard (4th, at 16:59 of the 3rd) and Dominic LeBlanc (7th, at 19:52 of the 3rd) replied for the Blizzard, who hadn’t lost at Jean-Daigle since November 17, a 20-game winning streak.
The Blizzard had a 25-23 edge in the shots column.
Goalie Jack Flanagan was solid in front of the Timberwolves’ cage, earning him the game’s second star. Miramichi’s David Doucet was selected the first star. Bédard of the Blizzard was chosen the third star.
The Blizzard had played their last game on March 19 after eliminating the Fredericton Red Wings in four games, a 16-day wait. The Timberwolves had been inactive for 9 days.
The second game of the series will be played on Sunday, April 7 (7 p.m.) at the Miramichi Civic Centre.
Here’s the schedule for the other games in the series:
Sunday, April 7 in Miramichi, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, April 9 in Edmundston, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, April 11 in Miramichi, 7 p.m.
Saturday, April 13 in Edmundston, 7:30 p.m. (if necessary)
Monday, April 15, Miramichi, 7 p.m. (if necessary)
Wednesday, April 17, Edmundston, 7:30 p.m. (if necessary)
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Photo
Blizzard defenseman Alexis Jacques multiplied his charges in the offensive zone throughout the game. Photo Percy Picard
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Contact: Hugues Chiasson, vice-president communications – The Edmundston Blizzard; (506) 740-0623 – cell phone