Caps rally

Summerside defeats Miramichi with three-goal third period

It’s a game the Summerside D. Alex MacDonald Ford Western Capitals may look back on as a key point of the 2015-16 season.

The Capitals, who only a few weeks ago were atop the Maritime Junior Hockey League standings, were 20 minutes away from having the fourth-place Miramichi Timberwolves close to within four points in the Roger Meek Division.

The Timberwolves took a 4-2 lead into the third period of Saturday night’s meeting, but the Capitals rallied with three unanswered goals for a 5-4 victory.

The Caps, who are 24-12-1-1, moved into second place, one point ahead of Dieppe (24-10-10) and eight clear of Miramichi. The Caps are four points back of first-place Woodstock (25-7-3-1), who lost 3-0 to Campbellton (1712-5-1) on Saturday.

At the Miramichi Civic Centre, Riley Whittingham had two goals and two assists to lead the Capitals to just their third win in eight games since Christmas.

Rookie defenceman Jesse Annear started the Caps’ comeback 3:56 into the third period and Sam LeBlanc tied the game at 6:52. Alex Peddle (1-1) then put the Caps in front at 10:50.

Mitch Dempsey contributed three assists. Single helpers went to Tanner McCabe, Blaize Bridges, Evan Morrison and Nathan Yetman.

Neil Aird (2-1), Brayden Uhrich (1-2) and Oliver Gendron (1-1) replied for the Timberwolves, who led 2-1 after the first period.

Matt Williams was the winning goalie.