Caps win thriller
Shea nets winner in final minute
The Summerside D. Alex MacDonald Ford Western Capitals are entering the Christmas break on a winning note.
Brodie MacArthur set up linemate TJ Shea for the winning goal with 45 seconds remaining in regulation time, and Kallum Muirhead made an immediate impact in his return from an injury, as the Caps pulled out a 4-3 come-from-behind win over the Woodstock Slammers on Saturday night.
The Caps improved to 1511-1-0 (won-lost-overtime losses-shootout losses) in the MHL (Maritime Junior Hockey League).
The Caps, who were coming off a hard-fought 4-3 road loss to the league-leading Edmundston Blizzard (22-4-3-0) on Friday night, sit fourth in the Eastlink North Division, but are just one point behind the Miramichi Timberwolves (14-10-2-2) and Campbellton Tigers (15-112-0).
The Tigers will provide the opposition for the Caps’ first game after Christmas on Dec. 30 at Eastlink Arena (7 p.m.).
Close throughout Before 575 fans at the AYR Centre, the Caps and Slammers were tied 2-2 after the first and second periods.
Samuel Cameron (1-1)
scored a short-handed goal at
5:29 of the third period to give the Slammers a 3-2 lead, but Muirhead’s second goal of the game with 4:05 remaining in regulation time pulled the Caps even.
MacArthur led the Caps with a goal and an assist, and Shea also added a helper for a twopoint night.
Rookie Josh MacDonald and Cameron Roberts, along with affiliated player Riley Gallant of the Kensington Moase Plumbing and Heating Vipers of the Island Junior Hockey League, drew single assists.
Tayden Woods and Kyle Foreman also scored for the Slammers (7-17-3-1).
Winning goaltender Dominik Tmej stopped 17 shots as the Caps outshot the Slammers 4220, including period advantages of 17-13, 10-5 and 15-2.
So, just how hot have Shea and MacArthur been recently?
Shea has recorded 53 points during a 21-game point streak while MacArthur has 27 points during a point streak that has reached 13 games.
Shea leads the MHL in scoring with 59 points — 25 goals and 34 assists — in 27 regularseason games. MacArthur has 35 points — 14 goals and 21 assists — in 22 contests to sit fifth in league scoring.
The game’s three stars were:
1. Brodie MacArthur (Caps),
2. Samuel Cameron (Slammers),
3. Kallum Muirhead (Capitals).