Offensive display at the Nest
Big night for rookie Francis in Screaming Eagles 9-4 win over Wildcats
There were no four-goal comebacks or late-game heroics needed for the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles on Tuesday night.
Cape Breton struck for fivestraight goals and traded tallies with the visiting Moncton Wildcats from there in a 9-4 win in front of 2,271 Quebec Major Junior Hockey League fans at Centre 200.
Tuesday’s victory was a change of pace from the past three games for the Screaming Eagles, which required the home side to take the comeback route to force overtime.
It shouldn’t come as a surprise at the high-scoring affair between the two clubs. Moncton and Cape Breton entered the game as the top two scoring clubs in the league, and offence was on full display.
Screaming Eagles rookie Ryan Francis led the way with two goals and three assists in the triumph, including the eventual winner at 4:05 of the second on the power play.
Francis entered elite company as well. He tied a rookie record for points in a game with five, joining Evgeny Svechnikov and James Sheppard.
“It’s pretty honouring,” said the 15-year-old forward from Beaver Bank, N.S. He scored his fourth and fifth goals of the campaign in the victory. “Those are two pretty cool names to be (associated) with. It was a great effort from the whole line helping me out to get those five points.”
Drake Batherson continued his torrid scoring pace as well on Tuesday. The CHL player of the week scored and added three assists for his third fourpoint game in a row. The goal was his league-leading 16th of the campaign, and his 28 points on the season are first in the QMJHL. Batherson has recorded at least a point in all 14 games he’s played this season.
Olivier Bourret scored twice and chipped in a pair, while Phélix Martineau and Brooklyn Kalmikov scored and assisted. Egor Sokolov and a hardworking Tyler Hylland rounded out the attack with singles for Cape Breton (9-5-1-0), who have won two straight. The Eagles have earned seven out of a possible eight points in their last four games.
“Great team effort. Great preparation. I think our leaders got the whole team ready,” said Eagles head coach and general manager Marc-André Dumont. “It’s great to see a 60-minute effort and a 60-minute focus. It’s a team win.
“There were 12 different guys who got points tonight and when you get that high number, it means that so many players contributed.”
Anderson MacDonald, Jakob Pelletier, Julien Tessier and Dylan Seitz replied for the Wildcats (9-4-2-0), who have lost their last two games.
Kevin Mandolese stopped 25 shots to improve to 4-3-1-0 on the season. Wildcats starter Mark Grametbauer took the loss, stopping 22 of 28 shots. Alec MacDonald made eight saves on 11 shots in relief.
Cape Breton continues its homestand on Thursday night when they host the Victoriaville Tigres. Puck drop at Centre 200 is 7 p.m.
NOTES: Peyton Hoyt (upper body) and Kyle McGrath (upper body) are day-to-day.