Eagles Top Wildcats in Overtime to Conclude Homestand
Published on November 16, 2021 under Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
Cape Breton Eagles News Release
SYDNEY - The Cape Breton Eagles ended a homestand on a winning note with a thrilling 4-3 overtime win over the Moncton Wildcats.
The game had a pedestrian start, with not much in the way of high end scoring chances- but the home side opened the game up in the final two minutes of the opening frame as Matt MacDonald put a rebound by Vincent Fillion. The Eagles received more good news when less than a minute later, Nicolas Pavan was sent to the penalty box. The penalty carried over to the second period.
When Francis Langlois was sent off for tripping early in the second stanza, it became a two man advantage. Dawson Stairs had plenty of opportunity with the power play as he rung a shot off the crossbar and then not long after, another one off the post.
The play continued, but at the next stoppage, it was determined that Stairs' first crossbar shot had actually gone in the net- the Eagles had a two goal lead, and additional power play time from the second penalty was put back on the clock. However, not long after, Jérémy Langlois was sent off to create a 4 on 4 situation. Once on the power play, Vincent Labelle made good for the visitors and it was 2-1. The Eagles then dodged a bullet when they killed off their own 68 second five on three situation later in the frame.
Both teams found the back of the net once more before period's end. First, it was Ivan Ivan restoring the two goal Eagle cushion with a shot through traffic. Then Ethan Dollemont flipped a shot from the sideboards through Nicolas Ruccia to make the score 3-2.
The third period featured not only a tying goal, but more 5 on 3 play as an indirect result of some fireworks. Labelle was given an instigator for his spirited fight with Eagles defenseman FJ Buteau in which Buteau seemed to land most of the punches. It turned into a 24 second five on three when Francesco Iasenza was given a tripping minor, but the Wildcats were able to kill it off.
With 1:45 to play, Moncton coach Daniel Lacroix lifted Fillion for an extra attacker. Just seconds later, former Eagle Brooklyn Kalmikov jammed a puck on the short side trying to to get it by Ruccia- the puck came out in front to Jonas Taibel who put it over the goal line.
Overtime proved to be a sprint, with not much in the way of shots but penalty in the way of chances. Just past the halfway mark Kalmikov set up Thomas Auger at the side of the Eagles net, but Auger wasn't able to get a shot on net. The play developed the other way with Émile Hegarty-Aubin coming in on a breakaway.
Kalmikov did his best to close the gap, but Hegarty-Aubin stayed in front and slipped it through the legs of Fillion to give the Eagles a win and snap the three game losing streak.
Ruccia picked up the win, stopping 31 of 34 shots. Fillion turned aside 34 of 38 in the loss.
The Eagles will now head to the province of Quebec for their second Quebec road trip of the season- beginning with Friday night's game against the Quebec Remparts. Puck drop is at 8 PM Atlantic time. The game is available for purchase online at https://watch.chl.ca. You can also hear all the action beginning with the pre-game show with Patrick McNeil at 7:30 PM on 1270 AM CJCB or online at www.cjcbradio.com
THREE STARS OF THE GAME
1. Ivan Ivan (Cape Breton) 1 goal, 5 shots, 21/31 on face-offs
2. Nicolas Ruccia (Cape Breton) 31 saves on 34 shots
3. Vincent Fillion (Moncton) 34 saves on 38 shots
Scratches For Cape Breton: Nicholas Girouard (lower body injury), Connor Trenholm (lower body injury), Sean Larcohelle (lower body injury)
Scratches For Moncton: Nathan Casey (lower body injury), Yohan Loshing (upper body injury), Maxim Barbashev (upper body injury), Thomas Darcy
Final Shots On Goal: 38-34 in favour of Cape Breton
Cape Breton Power Play: 1/7
Moncton Power Play: 1/3
Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Stories from November 16, 2021
- Eagles Top Wildcats in Overtime to Conclude Homestand - Cape Breton Eagles
- Hockey Canada Unveils Three U17 Rosters - QMJHL
- CHL Team of the Week Named for November 8-14 - QMJHL
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