FROM B1 CAPS
scoring (to make it 4-2).
“I think that took things off the rails a bit and took us a few minutes to (regroup). On the bench, we kind of got emotional a little bit on the play and thought we deserved a power play there, and we had to refocus and settle back in.
“Then there was a little breakdown, and they scored their third one, and we had to call a timeout and get things straightened out a little bit.”
Mcguigan’s message during the timeout was the Caps have been the better team in the game, stay relaxed and stick to the game plan.
KEY PLAY
Macdonald, who assisted on fellow rookie Ryder Howatt’s game-winning goal in the second period, played a big role in finishing the job.
In the final half minute of the third period, Macdonald won a battle inside the Caps’ blue-line, cleared the puck and was able to control it deep inside the Amherst zone to run out the clock.
“(I) got a bouncing puck,” said Macdonald, who contributed two assists in the win. “I just went at it, chopped it forward and I had an open net that I missed that would have been nice to have. But we still won in the end, and that’s all that matters.”
Mcguigan was not surprised by Macdonald’s play in a pressure-filled situation.
“Jonah has been a great player for us here throughout the playoffs and regular season,” said Mcguigan. “He’s a big strong kid and he wins those battles, and that’s why he’s on the ice at that time of the game. We liked how he battled there and got it out of the zone.”
POSITIVE SIGNS
After losing Games 1 and 3 by identical 8-2 scores in Summerside, Ramblers general manager and head coach Phil Fife said Amherst can take some positives from Game 5.
“For us, we played a lot better, so we have some confidence if we do come back here for Game 7,” said Fife. “Obviously, when you start down 4-0, that’s not the way you want to start. (The) guys fought back and it was a little different than the last two games here.”
In Games 1 and 3, the Caps outscored Amherst a combined 11-0 in the second periods.
GOALIE CHANGE
Another storyline in Game 5 featured a goalie change for the Ramblers. After rookie Lyam Leblanc, coming off a 40-save effort in Amherst’s 4-3 overtime win in Game 4 on April 8, Jack Howatt of Charlottetown got the start.
“Both goalies are the reason we are here in this situation in the first place,” said Fife. “We wouldn’t have made the playoffs without both of them.
“Lyam has had a lot of shots the last couple of games (160 through the first four games), so he’ll go back in the net for Game 6 and Game 7 if we need him.”
Howatt turned in a strong performance, stopping 40 of 44 shots.
Howatt made two highlight-reel saves with the score 4-1. The first one came in the final minute of the second period on a close-in opportunity, and the second one was a glove save moving to his left off a point-blank shot with the Caps on the power play. That save came just before Amherst scored to make it 4-2.
“(Howatt) gave us a chance to win the game,” said Fife. “It’s unfortunate that we couldn’t at least make it a little closer at the end there; we should have probably just threw some pucks at the net, but the guys fought back, so no complaints.”
Capitals goaltender Drew Sim made 24 saves.
THREE-POINT NIGHT
Offensively, Paul Hughes (2-1) led the Capitals. Blake Eastman also scored while Connor Keough, Simon Mullen, Brennan Murphy and Robbie Rutledge added assists.
Alex Christmas netted Amherst’s first goal.
The Ramblers were 0-for-2 on the power play while the Caps went 0-for-1. Referees Justin Desroches and Tanner Doiron called three minor penalties in the game – two against Summerside.
The game’s three stars were:
1. Paul Hughes (Caps), 2. Connor Keough (Caps), 3. Jonah Macdonald (Caps).