On this photo, Pierre Bourgoin, of Grand Falls, scored his ninth goal of the campaign with a wrist shot in the top left corner that beat the goaltender on the blocker side. The goal came at 11:34 of the second period. Photo Olivier Chiasson
EDMUNDSTON, New Brunswick – Defenseman Tristan Mercure was the hero on Sunday afternoon when he scored the winning goal at 1:11 of overtime, giving the Edmundston Blizzard a 5-4 victory against the South Shore Lumberjacks in front of 2,674 ecstatic fans at the Jean-Daigle Centre.
Mercure seized a great opportunity on a giveaway during the 3-on-3 overtime period. In a 2-on-1 situation, Logan Johnston made a tremendous pass through the goal crease to Mercure who lifted the puck on a one-timer to beat the Lumberjacks goaltender.
As they did two days before against Miramichi, the Blizzard’s players fell asleep in the third period. On Sunday, Edmundston had a 4-1 lead and saw South Shore make a come back to tie the game 4-4 at 16:52.
After a scoreless first period, the Blizzard got going in the second with three goals from Dany Coulombe, Alexandre Jacob, and Pierre Bourgoin, all scored in the top net. The first two goals came on the power play. Nicholas Tardif replied for the Lumberjacks. Blizzard was leading 3-1 after 40 minutes.
In the third period, Alex Lavoie scored while goalkeeper Conor McCollum was screened. With a three-goal lead, the Blizzard saw the visitors score three unanswered goals, those of Samuel Cyr-Ledoux (6:14), Aidan Casey (6:52) and Cody Grant (16:52).
Goalkeeper Francis Asselin made a comeback between the pipes for the Blizzard. And he offered a masterful performance, repelling 34 shots. He must thank his post when the Lumberjacks had a chance to run away with the victory with 1:38 left in the third period. A special mention also to defenseman Dominic Hachey who saved the game for the Blizzard when he blocked a shot while the net was left unprotected.
QUICK NOTES – Tristan Mercure (1st), Alexandre Jacob (2nd) and Francis Asselin (3rd) were the stars of the game… South Shore led 38-32 in shots… Jacob (1-1) and Logan Johnston (2 assists) were the best on offense for the locals. Newcomer Dany Coulombe continues his good work. He scored a goal in each of his third game since joining the Blizzard… The Lumberjacks were short of players since several players had to deal, it seems, by food poisoning following their game in Woodstock on Saturday. They were 13 players in uniform, not counting the goalkeepers, for Sunday’s game… The Blizzard (25 wins, 6 losses and 3 overtime defeats) has 53 points. One more win by Edmundston or a Woodstock loss will guarantee a Blizzard playoff spot in the EastLink North division. The Blizzard magic number is 2… The Billard will play its next three games on the road. On Friday, January 19th they play in South Shore, on Saturday, January 20th, they face Yarmouth and on Thursday, January 25th, they are in Summerside.
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Contact: Hugues Chiasson, vice-president communications – The Edmundston Blizzard; (506) 740-0623 – cell phone