Duffy’s OT marker lifts Rocket
It’s four wins in a row and counting for the P. E. I. Rocket.
Ben Duffy scored his second of the game 2: 46 into overtime to give the home side a 4- 3 victory Friday over the Acadie- Bathurst Titan. Duffy ended up with the puck after it was knocked off Josh Currie’s stick in the offensive zone.
“I got a shot off as quick as I could and it went through the five- hole,” Duffy said.
The win in front of 2,000 fans at the Civic Centre came after the Rocket had erased a 2- 1 deficit after 40 minutes. They were nine minutes away from a victory when Matthew Bissonette tied it for the Titan.
Duffy said it showed the team’s character bouncing back to capture the victory.
“Even if we’re down a goal or two, no one ever gives up and we find ways to come back,” he said.
Antoine Bibeau was sharp again for the Rocket, earning his fifth victory of the season.
With the game tied 1- 1 with 14 minutes to go in the second period, Jimmy Oligny went for a hip check at his own blue- line. He missed and it cost the Rocket as Alex Jon Banville beat Bibeau for a power- play marker.
Oligny said he was indecisive because he wasn’t sure if the Titan player was going to cut to the middle or not.
The Rocket killed a double minor for high- sticking to Erik Robichaud to end the second period and gained momentum. They got the equalizer 28 seconds into the third when Titan goalie Mason McDonald gave away the puck and Victor Provencher fired it into the net.
“I was lucky,” said Provencher, who has a fourgame goal- scoring streak going. “As long as the team wins, I’m glad.”
The Rocket is 7- 2 and is starting to turn heads throughout the city, across the province and around the league.
“No one really expected us to get off to this start, so I think people are starting to kind of notice us,” Duffy said.
“It’s great to win. We’re on a good streak . . . and we want to keep it going,” Oligny added.
But don’t expect the players to get ahead of themselves. They know it’s only October.
“We have to stay humble and not get too cocky as a team,” Duffy said
The Rocket is back in action tonight when they host Rouyn- Noranda. Game time is 7 p. m. at the Civic Centre.