Crushers’ power play drives 4-1 win

Three power play goals helped the Junior A Crushers to a 4-1 win over the Campbellton Tigers in a Maritime Hockey League game on Thursday.

With Pictou County looking to gain ground on the Truro Bearcats, Alex Bonaparte scored with the Crushers on the power play 17 minutes into the second period, breaking a scoreless tie in what at times was a scrambly contest at the Pictou County Wellness Centre.

Joel Walker responded for Campbellton with 46 seconds left in the second period, but the Crushers went to work on the power play in the third; Bonaparte tipped in a long-range shot to put his team in front, then got an assist on a PP goal from Jake Martin, who found a rebound and capitalized on his chance.

An empty-netter from Jacob Hickey clinched the victory for Pictou County, who moved to within four points of the final playoff spot in the MHL’s South Division.

The team they are trying to catch — the Bearcats — will play host to Pictou County on Friday.

Game notes

■ Matt Normore was solid in the Crushers net, making 34 saves.

■ Defenceman Quinten Johnson had two assists.

■ Crushers captain Michael Dill collected an assist after missing two games with a lowerbody injury.

■ Bonaparte, who struggled to produce offence in the first half of the season, has six goals in his last 12 games.

■ The game featured two spirited tussles; Campbellton’s Charles-William Gagne — generously listed as five-foot-seven — managed to hang in there against Crusher defenceman Jon Vandermolen in a second-period tilt, and Donovan Rehill fought Trevor Bush in the third.