4-1 Loss in Shawinigan brings and end to the Phœnix’s season
Written by: Dylan Konecny
After a heartbreaking loss in double overtime of game four, game five in Shawinigan was do or die for the Phœnix in their first round playoff series. As they looked to come back against the Shawinigan Cataractes.
Right off the bat Shawinigan wasted no time getting on the scoreboard earning themselves a 1-0 lead nineteen seconds into the game after Dany Moynihan intercepted a breakout pass in Sherbrooke’s zone. The forward then made his way towards Evan Fitzpatrick alone to bury his second goal of the post season. Midway through the period Shawinigan doubled their lead on the power play with a goal from Brandon Gignac for the last goal of the opening frame.
To start the second period, the Phœnix got on the board early with a power play goal from Carl Neill after he took a pass from Thomas Grégoire for a big one timer blasting the puck past Phillipe Cadorette. However, the Cataractes regained their two goal lead just over three minutes later when Alexis D’Aoust scored his 5th goal of the playoffs at 7:08. Fitzpatrick had put in another strong performance in the game stopping 30 shots through the first forty minutes.
Despite a valiant effort by the Phœnix they were unable to score on Shawinigan’s goalie Phillipe Cadorette in the third period. A late Dmytro Timashov empty net goal, ended their chances of a comeback and moving on to the next round; losing the series four games to one. Evan Fitzpatrick stopped 39/42 shots in the game five loss earning the third star of the game.
Sherbrooke’s leading scorers for the first round series were Guillaume Gauthier (4G 2A), Carl Neill (4G 2A), Daniel Audette (1G 5A), Kay Schweri (4A) and Nicolas Poulin (2G).
3 Stars:
1- Phillipe Cadorette (SHA)
2- Dany Moynihan (SHA)
3- Evan Fitzpatrick (SHE)
