QMJHL Cape Breton Eagles

Screaming Eagles Stun Olympiques in Rallying for Victory

Published on March 1, 2018 under Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
Cape Breton Eagles News Release


GATINEAU- The Cape Breton Screaming Eagles pulled off a remarkable comeback to top the Gatineau Olympiques 6-5 in a shootout on Wednesday night in Gatineau.

While the teams traded chances in the opening period, all the scoring was going the way of the home side. It began at the 7:27 mark when Shawn Boudrias gained speed through the neutral zone, created a 2 on 1 coming up the right wing and zapped a shot by Kevin Mandolese to put the Olympiques up 1-0. Less than two minutes later Alexandre Landreville would tip a shot to double the lead.

Gatineau's next two goals would be separated by even less time. After Giordano Finoro found the back of the net, it prompted a goaltending change as Kevin Mandolese was lifted after allowing three goals on six shots. But Kyle Jessiman would be welcomed to the game by a tip from Metis Roelens, just 12 seconds after the Finoro goal. Despite the Screaming Eagles outshooting the Olympiques 10-8, the Eagles trailed 4-0 after 20 minutes.

Perhaps the ice was tilted though as the second period would be the inverse. At the 7:55 mark Kyle McGrath converted a cross-ice pass to put the visitors on the board. The score would hold for a while but in the final six minutes the Eagles offense would kick it into overdrive.

Mathias Laferriere would cut the lead to 4-2, racing to the net to catch a rebound and burying it past Tristan Bérubé. It was then traffic in front of the net that would tie the game up. First it was tip in front of the goal by Egor Sokolov on the power play, and then the comeback was complete when another shot from the blueline went off Tyler Hylland in front of the goal.

If four consecutive goals wasn't enough, there would be fireworks to finish the second stanza. It began with a hit by Jeffrey Durocher on Noah Laaouan that would be called boarding. Declan Smith immediately raced to avenge his teammate and traded fists with Durocher. The Eagles would earn a power play that would carry over into the third period.

Despite the momentum being with the visitors, the Olympiques would kill the penalty off and that would lead to yet another dramatic turn of events. Jessiman came out of the net to play the puck to Brooklyn Kalmikov. The Eagles forward spun around to face the net attempting to play it off the boards, but shot it by his own goaltender. Landreville would receive credit for the goal and the Olympiques were back in front.

The third period would also feature more fisticuffs as Gatineau's Olivier Plourde and Cape Breton's Ty Fournier would drop the mitts. Plourde was given a game misconduct as a result of an attempt to pull off the helmet of Fournier.

Kalmikov would be redeemed later in the period from his earlier error, earning a point on the tying goal. It would again be the man advantage coming through as Laferriere hammered a one timer from the top of the left circle to square the contest before the halfway mark of the third period. The Eagles would almost earn the win in regulation when Ryan Francis hit the post.

Overtime was dominated by the Screaming Eagles, as they outshot the Olympiques 6-0. Gatineau was able to hold off a 4 on 3 man advantage for Cape Breton after Olympiques defenseman Gabriel Bilodeau was given two minutes for holding.

For just the third time on the season, the Screaming Eagles headed into the shootout. Oddly enough for a game that featured plenty of goals, red lights were tough to come by in the shootout. Both Gatineau's Maxime Trépanier and Cape Breton's Laferriere were denied in their attempts, and Boudrias would fail to score as well.

Hylland woud score the first marker of the shootout, putting the back to his backhand and sliding it through Bérubé. The pressure was then on Bilodeau to extend the game, but Jessiman would turn him aside to secure the victory for the Screaming Eagles.

Jessiman picked up the win, stopping 18 of 20 shots. Bérubé took the loss, allowing five goals on 39 shots.

Cape Breton now heads to Val-d'Or to take on the Foreurs on Friday night. Puck drop is at 8:30 PM. You can catch all the action starting with the pre-game show with Patrick McNeil at 6:30 on 1270 AM CJCB or online at http://www.cjcbradio.com.

THREE STARS OF THE GAME 1. Gabriel Bilodeau (Gatineau) 2 assists 2. Mathias Laferriere (Cape Breton) 2 goals, 1 assist, 6 shots 3. Alexandre Landreville (Gatineau) 2 goals, 3 shots

Scratches For Cape Breton: Peyton Hoyt (upper body injury), Kyle Havlena, Gabriel Proulx

Scratches For Gatineau: Mikhail Shestopalov, Carson Gallant, Dawson Theede (suspension)

Final Shots On Goal: 39-24 in favour of Cape Breton

Cape Breton Power Play: 2/6

Gatineau Power Play: 1/6

Check out the Cape Breton Eagles Statistics

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Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Stories from March 1, 2018


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