Moncton Wildcats head coach Darren Rumble has been working diligently on getting a complete 60-minute game from his hockey team and tonight’s contest was exactly what he was looking for with a balanced attack from all four lines, tight forechecking and solid play in their own zone.

 

After a slow start by both teams, the Wildcats opened the scoring on the power play as Ivan Barbashev, fresh from his 45 goal season put Moncton up 1-0 rifling a wrist shot past Julio Billia at 10:47 with assists going to Conor Garland and Jacob Sweeney.

 

Chicoutimi’s top offensive threat evened the score at the 5:00 minute mark of the second period when Laurent Dauphin grabbed a loose puck behind the Wildcat net and beat Alex Dubeau with a wrap around shot. Dubeau protested the puck did not cross the line and after video review it was deemed a good goal and the Sagueneens pulled even 1-1.

 

Following the goal Chicoutimi seemed to gain some confidence and began to press the Wildcats in their own zone however it was short lived as Garrett Johnston took matters into his own hands grabbing an Adam Holwell pass at the Sags blueline and burying a slapshot that eluded Billia at the 10:18 mark of the second to give the Wildcats a 2-1 advantage.

 

The Wildcats increased their lead to 3-1 when Eric Leger picked up a Will Bower pass and made no mistake going stick side on Julio Billia at 17:17 and giving the Cats a two goal cushion heading into period three.

 

Moncton opened the third period with a two man advantage and wasted little time making it 4-1 when Taylor Burke deflected a Conor Garland pass in the crease at the :17 second mark.

 

Chicoutimi cut the lead to 4-2 at 16:57 when Jannae Puhakka knifed a loose puck over a sprawling Alex Dubeau while Moncton was killing off a penalty and the Chicoutimi net empty in favor of the 6 on 4 powerplay.

 

Moncton went 2-9 on the powerplay while the Sagueneens were 1-4. Moncton outshot Chicoutimi 37-33.