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Cape Breton Eagles

Eagles Complete Comeback to Top Sea Dogs in Overtime

October 23, 2017 - Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
Cape Breton Eagles News Release


SAINT JOHN- The Cape Breton Screaming Eagles pulled off yet another big third period comeback.... but this time, finished the job in a 6-5 overtime win Sunday in Saint John. it didn't appear as though any such heroics would be needed in the opening period as Cape Breton's Brooklyn Kalmikov opened the scoring at 3:13 on the power play. It was the first career goal for the first round pick of the Screaming Eagles.

But the complexion of the game changed in the span of six seconds just after the halfway mark. Daniel Hardie would race Eagles netminder Kevin Mandolese to the puck on a dump in and slide it into the open night to tie the game. Just seconds later Ostap Safin came up the left wing and handcuffed Mandolese with a glove side shot to give the home side the lead.

Safin's goal marked the end of the night for Mandolese as Jessiman came in in relief. Mandolese stopped six of eight during his first period stint in goal. The period would end with the Sea Dogs in the lead, although a pair of short handed chances from Drake Batherson almost tied the game- one hitting the crossbar and the other stopped by Alex D'Orio.

Saint John was given a golden opportunity to take over the game early in the second period when Cape Breton's Sacha Roy was given a five minute major and a game misconduct for checking to the head. And the Sea Dogs cashed in earliy, with Samuel LeBlanc scoring 48 seconds into the major. However the Eagles would kill the rest off and keep it a two goal scoreline.

Special teams continued to be a factor as Cape Breton would find its second man advantage goal of the night on a Drake Batherson one timer at 10:09 to cut the lead to 3-2. But the home side was quick to respond, with Matt Green lifting it over Jessiman 30 seconds later to restore the two goal margin. Saint John carried a 5-2 lead into the third stanza after Alexandre Lafrenière raced into the Eagles zone and banked a rebound off the boards past Jessiman.

Period three would belong to the visitors though, erasing the third goal margin. First it was a three way passing play between Tyler Hylland, Batherson and Ryan Francis that resulted in Francis scoring from the side of the goal. Before the period was even eight minutes old, Adam McCormick would make it a one goal contest with a ripping shot from the left circle. And the Screaming Eagles would tie the game with the most improbable of goals- Batherson, with a full skate behind the goal line, banking it off D'Orio from the sharpest of angles to knot the game at 5.

Cape Breton had a chance to finish the game in regulation as Anthony Boucher was sent off for checking to the head with just over two minutes to play. A winning goal was not to be found in the late stages of the third and it was off to overtime where quality chances would be abound for both teams.

Each club put three shots on goal and it was a high end opportunity that would finish it. Radim Salda's drop pass was intercepted by Drake Batherson who would race in on D'Orio, outwaiting the Dogs goaltender and putting it by him for the hat trick and the overtime winner. Batherson leads the QMJHL with 15 goals and has a point in every game he's played this season.

Jessiman picked up the win in relief, stopping 19 of 22 shots. D'Orio was tagged with the loss, allowing six goals on 39 shots.

Next up the Screaming Eagles return to Centre 200 for a three game home stand, beginning Tuesday against the Moncton Wildcats. Puck drop is 7 PM. Tickets can be purchased at the Centre 200 box office, by phone at 902-564-2200 or online at https://tickets.capebreton.ca/Online/default.asp

THREE STARS OF THE GAME 1. Drake Batherson (Cape Breton) 3 goals, 1 assist 2. Cédric Paré (Saint John) 1 assist, 1 shot, +1 3. Ostap Safin (Saint John) 1 goal, 3 shots

Scratches For Cape Breton: Kyle McGrath (collarbone), Peyton Hoyt (injury), Ryan MacLellan

Scratches For Saint John: Ben Reid, Landon Quinney, Marcus Tesink, Nicholas Deakin-Poot, Robbie Burt

Final Shots On Goal: 39-30 in favour of Cape Breton

Cape Breton Power Play: 2/8

Saint John Power Play: 1/4 -30

Check out the Cape Breton Eagles Statistics

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Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Stories from October 23, 2017


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