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Cape Breton Eagles

Eagles Top Olympiques in Overtime in Playoff Opener

March 24, 2017 - Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
Cape Breton Eagles News Release


SYDNEY- In a game filled with missed special teams opportunities, it was a short handed goal that was the difference as Giovanni Fiore gave the Screaming Eagles a 1-0 lead in their first round series against the Gatineau Olympiques.

In a game between two teams that have better offensive records than defensive records, it was a feeling out process in which open ice was limited on either side. Both teams would have ample opportunity on the man advantage- first the Screaming on consecutive minors by Daniel Del Paggio. Then Gatineau would prove unsuccessful on two power plays of their own.

The shots would remain even after two periods, at just 19 a piece. Not every penalty led to a power play, as a skirmish that saw Vitali Abramov, Matthew Thorpe and Yakov Trenin of Gatineau sent of along with Cape Breton's Ty Fournier, Olivier LeBlanc, and Declan Smith at the 14:22 mark. Opportunities were limited but the Eagles' Kyle Jessiman and the Olympiques' Bellemarre were there to make the key saves.

At the halfway mark of the third period, Anthony Gagnon would be banished for four minutes for a high stick on Giovanni Fiore. The Eagles couldn't cash in on the opportunity, although they did outshoot the Olympiques 14-6 in the third frame. Sixty minutes would solve nothing and for the first time in Screaming Eagles history, a playoff game went to overtime locked at 0.

Gatineau had gone 0 for 3 on the man advantage during regulation, not earning any power plays in the third period, but would find themselves on a power play just 18 seconds into the extra session. But things would turn sour quickly for the visitors as Fiore would earn a two on one with Fournier with Will Thompson as the defenseman back for Gatineau. Fiore elected to keep, and wired it over the shoulder of Olympiques' netminder Bellemarre and sent the Centre 200 crowd into a frenzy and gave the Eagles a 1-0 advantage in both the game and the series.

Game two of the series goes Saturday night, with the Screaming Eagles holding a 1-0 lead in the series. Puck drop is at 7 PM. Tickets can be purchased at Centre 200 box office, by calling 902-564-2200 or online at https://tickets.capebreton.ca/Online/default.asp

Three stars: 1. Giovanni Fiore (Cape Breton) overtime winner, 9 shots 2. Kyle Jessiman (Cape Breton) 25 save shutout 3. Mathieu Bellemarre (Gatineau) 33 saves on 34 shots

Scratches For Cape Breton: Olivier Bourret, Logan O'Neil

Scratches For Gatineau: Alex Breton (lower body injury), Vincent Milot-Ouellet (Injury)

Final Shots On Goal: 34-25 in favour of Cape Breton

Cape Breton Power Play: 0/7

Gatineau Power Play: 0/4 -30- For additional information, please contact: Marc-Andre Dumont GM & Head Coach Cape Breton Screaming Eagles 902-577-2682 ma.dumont@capebretoneagles.com

Check out the Cape Breton Eagles Statistics

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Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Stories from March 24, 2017


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