Captain Kyle Ward (17) waits for a rebound as Leif Hertz is getting ready to block a shot fired by Logan Johnston (19). This action shot was taken during the third period of the Mariners-Blizzard playoff opener Saturday night in Edmundston. Ward went on to score the winning goal in the second overtime period. Photo Olivier Chiasson
Saturday night was no exception. Ward scored his third overtime goal of the playoffs, giving the Edmundston Blizzard a 6-5 win over the Yarmouth Mariners in the game opener of the final series of the Maritime Junior A Hockey League.
Wel positioned in the right face-off circle, Ward beat goalkeeper with a wrist shot on the glove side after receiving a brilliant pass from Logan Johnston. The decisive goal came at 51 seconds of the second overtime.
Ward scored two goals in the game, bringing his total to 10, a playoffs-high tied with Mateo Short of the South Shore Lumberjacks. First star of the game, Ward had two goals and two assists for a second game in a row.
It was a crazy contest. Each period finished tied: 1-1 after the first, 3-3 after the second, and 5-5 after the third.
Alexandre Jacob (2ndstar) completed the night with a goal and 4 assists. Defenseman Keenan Gillis scored his 2ndand 3rdgoals in the playoffs. He scored only once in the regular season. Dany Coulombe got the other Blizzard’s goal.
For the Mariners, defenseman Noah McMullin found himself a scoring talent by knocking in three goals, the same number he had in 48 regular season games. Andrew Martell and Brent Broaders also found the back of the net for the visitors.
The Mariners was on fire during the first period edging the Blizzard 18-8 on shots on goal. In all five periods, they dominated 43-30. The goalkeepers were Francis Asselin (Blizzard) and Leif Hertz (Mariners).
The second game of the final series will be played Sunday, April 15 at 7:30 pm at the Jean-Daigle Centre.
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Contact: Hugues Chiasson, vice-president communications – The Edmundston Blizzard; (506) 740-0623 – cell phone