Going the distance
Bishop shines as Caps defeat Blizzard to stay alive before over 2,300 fans
It’s going the distance. The Summerside D. Alex MacDonald Ford Western Capitals, led by two veterans and a rookie, defeated the Edmundston Blizzard 4-1 on Monday night to set up a seventh and deciding game in the Eastlink North Division final in Edmundston, N.B., on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.
“Game 7 is what you play hockey for,” said Capitals goaltender Alex Bishop, who made 39 saves in his first start since Game 1 of the division final. “It’s going to be an unbelievable atmosphere up there.
“They are going to sell out again and I can’t even imagine how loud it is going to be. It’s going to be a good time.”
The winner will face the Eastlink South Division-champion Yarmouth Mariners in the bestof-seven final to determine the 2017-18 MHL (Maritime Junior Hockey League) championship.
The Capitals, after dropping a 5-4 double-overtime decision in Game 5 in Edmundston on Saturday night, bounced back in a big way.
“We’re a resilient group,” said Bishop. “It’s an awesome group of guys in there, and we don’t want it to end.”
Before 2,347 fans at Eastlink Arena, midget-aged rookie Cameron Roberts of Kensington had two goals and an assist while TJ Shea added a goal and two helpers.
Chris Chaddock scored the other Caps’ goal while single helpers went to Jesse Anneal, Brodie MacArthur, Zach Thususka, Kallum Moorhead and Jordan Spence.
“I thought we played real well from start to finish,” said Bishop. “I think it was our best game obviously, and the result shows that.”
Dany Coulombe, assisted by Liam Leonard and Gabriel Vanier, netted the only goal for the Blizzard.
The Caps opened scoring at 5:38 of the first period as Chris Chaddock scored off his own rebound. It was a short-lived lead as Coulombe scored into an empty side of the net to the right of Bishop after some sloppy defensive play by the Caps.
The score remained 1-1 until Roberts gave the Caps the lead for good on the power play at 12:18 of the middle frame.
“Spenny (Spence) saw me all alone, he put it right on my tape and I had an open net,” said Roberts. “It was a great pass.”
A key point in the game came right after Roberts’s go-ahead goal as Bishop made three or four point-blank saves as the Blizzard applied heavy pressure.
“(Goaltending partner) Dom (Tmej) and I were actually talking between the first and second that every time we get a lead it goes away within the next minute,” said Bishop. “That was in the back of my head, and I knew we needed the momentum.
“I made a couple of big saves, and we got one right after that.”
Shea made it 3-1 at 14:59 as he banged in a rebound off a Zach Thususka shot from a twoon-one from a near impossible angle.
Roberts then closed out the scoring at 7:14 of the third period.
“TJ made a nice pass to me, it hit my skate, I shot it and hoped it went in and it did,” said Roberts.
Overall, the Blizzard outshot the Caps 40-25, including period advantages of 10-9, 15-10 and 15-6.
“I felt comfortable,” said Bishop. “I’ve been practising hard since my last game because this opportunity can always pop up. I’m excited I got the chance.”
Referees Justin DesRoches and Paul Matte called four of seven minor penalties against the Caps. The teams played a penalty-free first period.
The game’s three stars were:
1. Cameron Roberts (Capitals), 2. Alex Bishop (Capitals),
3. TJ Shea (Capitals).