Eagles Topped by Olympiques to Conclude Road Trip
Published on February 18, 2023 under Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
Cape Breton Eagles News Release
NOTES FROM THE GAME
- A five goal effort from Alexis Gendron helped lead the Gatineau Olympiques to an 8-4 victory over the Cape Breton Eagles in the final game of the Eagles season long six game road trip.
- After falling down 2-0 and rallying to tie the game, the Eagles cut a 5-2 lead to 5-4 before three third period Gatineau goals in the third period finished the scoring.
- Samuel Johnson scored twice for the Eagles, while Luke Patterson & Olivier Houde also scored in the loss and Brayden Schmitt added two assists.
-Eagles goaltender Oliver Satny missed his second straight game with illness. Luc-Antoine Labbé, an eighth-round pick of the Eagles in 2022, served as the backup.
Despite the teams combining for 12 goals, the game didn't find its first shot until the 3:19 mark. It was the first of Gendron's five goals as he got a piece of a Riley Kidney shot to beat Nicolas Ruccia. Gendron connected again before period's end to give Gatineau a 2-0 edge.
The Eagles didn't roll over, coming out firing in the second period as Jude Campbell set up Luke Paterson for an early marker to halve the deficit. Before the three-minute mark, it was a tie game as Olivier Houde pushed the puck over the goal line from the side of the net.
Before the halfway mark, Gendron completed his hat trick to put his team back in front and a fortunate bounce off of Ruccia allowed Antonin Verreault to also hit the scoresheet. Gendron's fourth of the night gave Gatineau a 5-2 edge, but Samuel Johnson hammered a one timer just six seconds into a power play to make it 5-3 before period's end.
It was a one goal game past the halfway mark of the third stanza when Gatineau received their first man advantage of the game- the stage which Gendron would score his fifth of the evening. An even strength blast by Isaac Belliveau then restored Gatineau's three goal cushion.
The Eagles had an opportunity to answer back on their own power play, but Kidney intercepted a clearing effort by Ruccia and flipped it to Dean at the side of the goal for a shorthanded marker. That concluded the scoring in an 8-4 victory for Gatineau.
Emerik Despatie took the win, stopping 25 of 29 shots. Ruccia took the loss, stopping 27 of 35.
The Eagles will finally return home and are next in action on Saturday, February 25th against the Saint John Sea Dog for the second annual Heritage Night at the Nest. Tickets can be purchased at https://bit.ly/3IBDFFI. They are also available for purchase in person at the Centre 200 box office and by the phone during box office hours at 902-564-2200
THREE STARS OF THE GAME
1. Alexis Gendron (Gatineau) 5 goals
2. Riley Kidney (Gatineau) 5 assistants
3. Samuel Johnson (Cape Breton) 2 goals
Scratches For Cape Breton: Angelo Fullerton (illness), Oliver Satny (illness), Zach Biggar (upper body injury)
Scratches For Gatineau: Antoine Michaud (injury), Joey Vetrano (injury), Haakon Hanelt (injury), Kaiden Kirkwood,
Final Shots On Goal: 35-29 in favour of Gatineau
Cape Breton Power Play: 1/5
Gatineau Power Play: 1/1
Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Stories from February 18, 2023
- Eagles Topped by Olympiques to Conclude Road Trip - Cape Breton Eagles
- Sea Dogs Game Day: Sea Dogs vs Islanders: 6:30 PM - Saint John Sea Dogs
- Eagles Conclude Road Trip in Gatineau against Olympiques - Cape Breton Eagles
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