Eagles Top Olympiques
Sydney- Key players missing from the lineup did not slow down the Screaming Eagles Sunday as they won their third straight home game. It was the first time this season Cape Breton played a team from outside the Maritime Division and they emerged victorious 5-2 over the Gatineau Olympiques.
It was a fast paced game that in the early going saw both teams generate chances but no goals. Gatineau’s Bo Taylor and Cape Breton’s Alexandre Bélanger kept the contest scoreless in the first fifteen minutes. But the teams would be tied at two heading to the break as the clubs combined for four goals in the last five minutes of the frame.
Pierre-Luc Dubois got the ball rolling, converting a cross-crease pass from Max Lazarev to net the Eagles a goal on the man advantage. It was the first power play goal the Olympiques allowed on the road this season. The visitors responded with a power play goal of their own by Yakov Trenin, and just 15 seconds later Alexandre Alain put the Olympiques ahead. But Lazarev would beat Taylor in the final minute of the opening period to square the affair.
The second period belonged to the home side. After a sequence of more than three minutes without a whistle, Dubois halted the game by scoring his second of the evening. Lazarev’s assist on the goal was his third point of the night. Anthony Sorrentino would expand the margin of the lead with a well paced shot in the top corner. Not to be out done by Dubois, Sorrentino would also notch his second goal of the game, finishing the scoring for the night at the 5:45 mark of the final twenty minutes.
Cape Breton picked up two points in the standings in spite of the loss of Loïk Léveillé, Evgeny Svechnikov, and Phélix Martineau to suspension in the aftermath of Friday’s game in Moncton. Peyton Hoyt also missed the game due to injury. Alex Bonaparte was recalled by the Eagles and registered one hit.
Prior to Sunday’s game, Yan Pavel Laplante and Vitalii Abramov had both recorded a point in all eight Olympiques games. Both players were held scoreless at Centre 200.
Bélanger was strong in the Eagles goal, stopped 36 saves for the victory to improve his record to 4-3. Bo Taylor took the loss for Gatineau, allowing five goals on 29 shots.
Next up for the Eagles is a date with the Victoriaville Tigres on Wednesday night at Centre 200. Puck drop is at 7 PM. Tickets can be purchased at Centre 200 box office, by calling 902-564-2200 or online at https://tickets.capebreton.ca/Online/default.asp
Three stars:
1. Pierre-Luc Dubois (Cape Breton), 2G, 3 shots
2. Anthony Sorrentino (Cape Breton), 2G, 3 shots
3. Alexandre Bélanger (Cape Breton) 36 saves on 38 shots
Scratches For Cape Breton: Loïk Léveillé (suspension), Evgeny Svechnikov (suspension), Phélix Martineau (suspension), Peyton Hoyt (concussion protocol)
Scratches For Gatineau: Jake Coughler, Simon Messier, Alex Dostie (upper body)
Final Shots On Goal: 38-29 in favour of Gatineau
Cape Breton Power Play: 2/8
Gatineau Power Play: 1/5
