Drakkar Rally To Take 2-0 Lead Over Eagles
NOTES FROM THE GAME
– The Baie-Comeau Drakkar rallied from down 2-0 to top the Cape Breton Eagles 5-3, and take a 2-0 lead in their league semi-final series. Justin Gill recorded a hat trick in the first two periods before Isaac Dufort broke the 3-3 tie early in the third period.
– Former Drakkar forward Charles-Antoine Lavallée led the attack for the Eagles with a goal and an assist. Cole Burbidge & Xavier Daigle also scored in the loss.
– The Eagles ended up on the wrong end of three penalty reviews: minor penalties to Eagle forwards Angelo Fullerton & Lucas Romeo were changed to majors, while a minor penalty to Baie-Comeau forward Félix Gagnon remained a minor penalty upon review.
– Charles-Édward Gravel picked up the win for Baie-Comeau, stopping 24 of 27 shots in the win, while Nicolas Ruccia took the loss, stopping 24 of 29 shots.
After falling behind 3-0 in game one, it was the Eagles applying the early pressure and were rewarded with an early power play goal. With Justin Poirier in the box for delay of game, Burbidge converted a Romeo feed at power play’s end to put the Eagles up 1-0 before the three minute mark.
Lavallée also assisted on the opening goal and was back on the score sheet again with a shot from the right faceoff circle that found its way by Gravel. Gill began his hat trick in the opening period, finishing a pass from Zachary Paulhus to get the home side on the board. The period finished 2-1.
Just as the Eagles converted on their first power play, so did the Drakkar early in the middle stanza with Gill potting his second of the night with Cam MacDonald serving a minor penalty. The next two penalties would be called would be majors.
Fullerton was the first casuality, with the video review giving him a five minute major for checking from behind. The Eagles penalty kill stood strong, allowing little Baie-Comeau opportunity and the score remained even at 2. The visitors pulled ahead when Daigle jumped into the play to rip a shot by Gravel.
With under five minutes to go in the second frame, a review of the Romeo hit gave him a five minute major for checking to the head. Gagnon was whistled for holding, a penalty that remained two minutes after a review, and the teams played four on four to finish the period.
It was at four on four where Gill finished his hat trick, wiring a pass from Poirier past Ruccia to conclude the period with a tie score. The Gagnon minor elapsed seconds into the third period, and with the balance of the major to work with, Dufort pushed the puck over the line from the lip of the blue paint. The play was reviewed but was deemed a good goal upon look at the video.
The Eagles outshot the Drakkar 9-5 in the third period, pushing for an equalizer but were unable to find. Poirier finished the scoring with just over six minutes to play. In the final three minutes, Ruccia was lifted for an extra attacker but the Eagles couldn’t solve Gravel.
The series will now shift to Sydney, as on Monday night the Eagles will hit home ice in round three for the first time since 2007! Monday’s game is sold out, but fans are advised to check Eagles social media in the event of additional tickets being released for sale. Puck drop is at 7 PM, and the game will be televised on Eastlink, is available for purchase on https://shorturl.at/bM127 and you can also hear all the action on 1270 AM CJCB or online at www.cjcbradio.com
THREE STARS OF THE GAME
1. Justin Gill (Baie-Comeau) 3 goals
2. Justin Poirier (Baie-Comeau) 1 goal, 3 assists
3. Charles-Antoine Lavallée (Cape Breton) 1 goal, 1 assist
Scratches For Cape Breton: Jude Campbell (injury), Noah Larochelle (injury), Jakob Milota (World Under 18s), Callum Aucoin
Scratches For Baie-Comeau: Julien Paillé (injury), Jabez Seymour, Kirill Evstigneev, Mattias Gilbert
Shots On Goal: 29-27 in favour of Baie-Comeau
Cape Breton Power Play: 1/2
Baie-Comeau Power Play: 2/4