Smith's Natural Hat Trick Leads Eagles to 4-1 Win in Chicoutimi
Published on January 15, 2018 under Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
Cape Breton Eagles News Release
The good times continue to roll for the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles in 2018 as the Eagles topped the Saguenéens 4-1 in Chicoutimi on Friday night. The Eagles have opened a three game road trip with two victories and are 4-0-1 since the calendar turned.
Egor Sokolov concluded the scoring on Thursday night in Québec City and would open the scoring in Chicoutimi on Friday. Sokolov would attempt a wrap around and and scored on the far side of netminder Alexis Shank at the 12:41 mark. Late in the period the Eagles would have an opportunity to add to the lead as Chicoutimi's Morgan Nauss was sent off for four minutes for high sticking near the end of the period.
However Chicoutimi's penalty kill would shut down the Eagles, and the Sags would tie the game with a short handed goal. Kevin Klima intercepted a drop pass and flipped the puck to Ryan Smith who put home the tying goal, and the clubs were tied at one at the sound of the first horn.
Smith would earn another quality short handed chance as the penalty carried over to the next period, but he couldn't bury the go ahead goal. The Eagles would then dodge another troubling situation when Kyle Havlena hit the ice after blocking a shot and left the ice after being down on ice for a lengthy period of time. Havlena would return before the period was over and resumed taking regular shifts.
Declan Smith would take over the game for the visiting side beginning with a goal past the halfway mark of regulation, with the assist going to Sokolov. Cape Breton lead Chicoutimi 2-1 after 40 minutes.
At the 11 minute mark of the final frame, Smith would add to the Eagle lead. Ryan Francis held the puck in the right corner of the Chicoutimi zone and would throw a no look pass to the slot and Smith who would push the Eagles lead to 3-1.
Chicoutimi would earn their own four minute power play in the second half of the third period. The Sags would generate several chances in the first half of the double minor, but the Eagles would shut down the home team in the second two minutes. Not long after, Yanick Jean would elect to pull his netminder for an extra attacker.
There would be no comeback, though, as Smith would hit the open cage to seal the deal. It was the second hat trick of the season for Smith and it gave the Eagles a 4-1 victory.
Jessiman stopped 22 of 23 shots in the victory, while Shank turned aside 27 of 30 shots in addition to the empty netter.
Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Stories from January 15, 2018
- SCREAMING EAGLES FALL TO DRAKKAR - Cape Breton Eagles
- SEA DOGS END ROAD TRIP WITH LOSS IN RIMOUSKI - Saint John Sea Dogs
- Smith's Natural Hat Trick Leads Eagles to 4-1 Win in Chicoutimi - Cape Breton Eagles
- SEA DOGS HANDCUFFED IN LOSS TO ARMADA! - Saint John Sea Dogs
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