Phœnix take down Océanic 3-1

Written by: Dylan Konecny

After cutting their road trip short earlier this week due to electrical issues at the Centre Henry-Leonard in Baie-Comeau. The Phœnix returned home to the Palais des Sports Léopold-Drolet to play the Rimouski Océanic. In the previous contests earlier this season the two teams have proved to be an even match for each other with both teams winning a game against the other in extra time.

After facing an onslaught of shots from the Phœnix early on, Alexandre Lagacé would stand tall keeping the puck out of the Rimouski net and the game tied. For the Phœnix, the combination of Kay Schweri and Daniel Audette with bruising forward Nicolas Poulin proved to be very effective. In the first period the trio of forwards displayed great chemistry gaining multiple scoring chances. Despite a total of 22 shots the first period would end with both goalies perfect. Evan Fitzpatrick stopped the nine shots he faced and Lagacé made 13 saves of his own.

Sherbrooke would start the second frame at a disadvantage after Julien Bahl was called for cross checking at the end of the first, forcing the Phœnix onto the defence to start the second. However, with seven seconds left in their power play the Océanic would take a too many men penalty at 1:53 putting the Phœnix on the man advantage, however they would be unable to capitalize on the opportunity. The first half of the game was marked by bad puck luck and missed chances. All that would change midway through the period when the Phœnix struck twice for goals less than thirty seconds apart to take a 2-0 lead over Rimouski. Nicolas Poulin tallied the first goal after tipping in a point shot from Nathanael Halbert at 8:46. Then after Chase Harwell broke past defenders into the offensive zone set up Hugo Roy in front to score his 6^th goal of the year at 9:15. Schweri would be hauled down on a breakaway by Simon Bourque prompting the referee to call for a penalty shot at 19:39. Despite a dazzling deke the puck would be kept out of the net by Lagacé. Phœnix defenceman Nathanael Halbert recorded assists on both goals making for a rare multipoint shift recording his 10^th and 11^th assists of the year.

Both teams would trade chances to start the third. However, the Phœnix would strike again on the power play at 12:20 when Guillaume Gauthier finished off a nice tic tac toe play with Poulin and Schweri to give the Phœnix a 3-0 lead. Rimouski would get on the board to cut into the Phœnix lead with a power play goal of their own at 14:12, after Simon Bourque was able to sneak a wrist shot past Fitzpatrick making it 3-1. The Phœnix would go on from there to close out the game with the win to a loud applause from the home fans.

Evan Fitzpatrick made 31 saves in the win for the Phœnix while Lagacé made 34 saves for Rimouski. Sherbrooke will next play the Armada at home Wednesday night at 7 p.m. In exchange for a season ticket not used since the beginning of the regular season, the organization will provide a free ticket to this game.

3 Stars:

1. Nathanael Halbert (SHE)

2. Anthony Chapados (SHE)

3. Alexandre Lagacé (RIM)