Eagles Defend Home Ice, Top Drakkar 2-1
NOTES FROM THE GAME
– A second period goal from Cam Squires broke a scoreless tie, and a second Squires marker proved as a key insurance goal as the Eagles topped the Baie-Comeau Drakkar 2-1. Baie-Comeau now leads the series 2-1, with the home team having won each of the first three games.
– Nicolas Ruccia stopped 39 of 40 shots in the win, while Charles-Édward Gravel stopped 24 of 26 shots in the loss.
– Antoine Roy blocked a shot with four seconds remaining in the game, cutting him open and bringing him down to the ice. He left the ice on his own power but did not return for the remaining seconds of the game.
The Eagles started fast, outshooting Baie-Comeau 6-0 in the early going in part due to an early penalty to Justin Gill. But Baie-Comeau killed the penalty and had their own chances, with the shots finish 9-9 at period’s end- and the game remaining scoreless.
The Drakkar had their own power play early in the second period but also were unable to find the back of the net. Less than a minute after a successful penalty kill, the ice opened for Squires who raced in on Gravel and beat the Baie-Comeau netminder to give the Eagles a 1-0 lead they would carry into the the third period.
While the first Squires goal was unassisted, he had help from his teammates on the second- the play started when Tomas Lavoie slid the puck down the boards to Jacob Newcombe behind the net. He fed Squires in front of the net, and while Gravel made the initial save, Squires cashed in on the rebound to make it a 2-0 game.
Squires’ goal proved key because the Drakkar pushed back at the 8:15 mark. Jules Boilard came out from the corner and won the puck in front of the net, slipping it by Ruccia to break the shutout and halve the lead.
In the final two minutes, Baie-Comeau pressed for a tying goal with Gravel out for an extra attacker. With the Drakkar producing absolutely frantic pressure, Ruccia came up with timely saves and multiple Eagle players registered shot blocks. Following the Roy injury, the Drakkar won the final faceoff with four seconds left but couldn’t get a successful shot to the net and the Eagles held on for a crucial victory.
The Eagles will look to tie the series tomorrow night in game four in Sydney. Puck drop is at 7 PM. It’s another sell out at Centre 200! The game will be televised on Eastlink, is available for purchase on https://shorturl.at/finz3 and you can also hear all the action on 1270 AM CJCB or online at www.cjcbradio.com
THREE STARS OF THE GAME
1. Cam Squires (Cape Breton) 2 goals, +2
2. Nicolas Ruccia (Cape Breton) 39 saves on 40 shots
3. Jacob Newcombe (Cape Breton) 1 assist, +1
Scratches For Cape Breton: Jude Campbell (injury), Noah Larochelle (injury), Jakob Milota (World Under 18s), Etienne Desjardins
Scratches For Baie-Comeau: Julien Paillé (injury), Jabez Seymour, Kirill Evstigneev, Alexis Mathieu
Shots On Goal: 40-26 in favour of Cape Breton
Cape Breton Power Play: 0/1
Baie-Comeau Power Play: 0/1