EAGLES MAKE IT 3-0
SPORTS
Screaming Eagles beat Gatineau 5-2 on the road to take big edge in their QMJHL series.
The first Quebec Major Junior Hockey League goal of Alexis Sansfaçon’s career couldn’t have come at a better time.
The rookie blue-liner scored what stood up as the gamewinning goal in the first period as the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles defeated the Gatineau Olympiques 5-2 in playoff action in front of 2,079 fans at Centre Robert-Guertin in Gatineau, Que.
“We’re getting contributions from everybody. At the same time, we’re giving it back to the players by rolling four lines. (Tuesday), we had seven ‘D’ dressed and it allows for everybody to contribute.”
Cape Breton Screaming Eagles head coach Marc-André Dumont
With the win, the Screaming Eagles take a 3-0 stranglehold of the best-of-seven opening round series. They can wrap things up tonight in Gatineau.
“It was great. The first one is always special and a special moment like that is way better,” said the native of Shawinigan, Que., playing in his 17-year-old season.
After Zack MacEwen put the hosts on the board in the first, Jordan Ty Fournier replied less than a minute later to even the score. Drake Batherson would give Cape Breton a lead his team wouldn’t surrender, followed by Sansfaçon’s tally at 18:50.
“I just tried to follow the rush and sometimes, the puck goes on your stick, you close your eyes and you put it in,” Sansfaçon said with a laugh. His parents and girlfriend were on hand to witness the goal.
After a scoreless second period, Giovanni Fiore and Yannik Bertrand further padded the Screaming Eagles lead early in the third.
“Those two goals were huge
because it gave us a cushion and it brought the game further away from them,” said Screaming Eagles head coach MarcAndré Dumont. “When you have a lead like that and get two additional goals, I think it facilitates the work for the rest of the game.”
A late tally by Daniel Del Paggio rounded out the scoring for Gatineau, who finished 0-for-4 on the power play. Cape Breton scored once on eight chances.
In the Cape Breton goal, Kyle Jessiman posted his third win of the playoffs, steering aside 21 shots. Gatineau starter Mathieu Bellemare allowed three goals on 17 shots and was replaced by Tristan Bérubé in the first, who stopped 21 of 23 pucks in relief.
Tuesday’s win was the first for Cape Breton in either the regular season or playoffs at the Centre Robert-Guertin since 2009. Three players — Massimo Carozza, Adam McCormick and Declan Smith — recorded two assists each.
“We’re getting contributions from everybody,” said Dumont. “At the same time, we’re giving it back to the players by rolling four lines. (Tuesday), we had seven ‘D’ dressed and it allows for everybody to contribute.”
Puck drop for tonight’s Game 4 is 8:30 p.m.
If necessary, Game 5 is scheduled for Friday night in Gatineau.