Caps in deep hole after loss
David’s late goal sends Miramichi to 3-1 lead in MHL final series
After posting the best record in the Maritime Junior Hockey League (MHL) regular season, the Summerside D. Alex Macdonald Ford Western Capitals are facing their biggest test of the 2023-24 campaign.
After dropping a 4-3 road decision on April 28, the Capitals trail the red-hot Miramichi Timberwolves 3-1 in the best-of-seven Metalfab Cup final series.
The Timberwolves, who have won three straight and 11 of their last 12 playoff games, have an opportunity to win the franchise’s firstever MHL championship with a win in Game 5 in Summerside on April 30 at 7 p.m.
The Caps, meanwhile, must win three straight games against the Timberwolves to win their sixth MHL title in franchise history. Summerside did overcome a 3-1 deficit against the Campbellton Tigers in the opening round of the 2023 playoffs.
OUTSHOOT TIMBERWOLVES
In Game 4, played before 2,168 fans at the Miramichi Civic Centre, former Capital Justin David scored his second goal of the game with 3:06 remaining in regulation time to break a 3-3 tie and lift the Timberwolves to victory.
David’s one-timer from inside the right-wing faceoff circle beat Capitals goaltender Niko Boudreau, who came on in relief of starter Drew Sim.
Boudreau, who stopped five of six shots, took over between the pipes after two early third-period goals by David (1:19) and Mitchell Wagner (2:35) staked Miramichi to a 3-0 lead. Sim stopped 17 of 20 shots.
David Doucet, who also added two assists for a threepoint night, opened the game’s scoring with a powerplay goal at 7:33 of the first period.
BATTLE BACK
The Capitals did not quit and scored three goals in less than two minutes to tie the game 3-3. Robbie Rutledge, who leads the MHL in playoff scoring with 21 points in 15 games, got the Caps on the board at 11:14.
Simon Mullen made it a one-goal game at 12:04 and Rutledge evened the score at 12:42.
FLANAGAN MAKES 42 SAVES
Timberwolves goaltender Jack Flanagan continued his strong play with a 42-save effort as the Caps outshot Miramichi 45-26. The Caps, who trailed 1-0 after the first and second periods, held period advantages of 12-9, 16-7 and 17-10.
Hugo Audette (2), Zachael Turgeon (2) and Ludovic Dufort also earned assists for the Timberwolves.
Blake Eastman, Trent Crane and Jacob Squires assisted on the Caps’ goals.
PENALTIES
Referees Ross Welner and Craig Betts called six of the game’s 10 minor penalties against the Timberwolves. Each team received one 10-minute misconduct. The Caps went 0-for-4 on the power play while Miramichi went 1-for-3. After going 3-for-5 on the power play in Game 1 against Miramichi, the Caps, who led the league in the regular season with a 30.1 per cent power play in the regular season and have a league-best 31.5 per cent in the playoffs, are 1-for-10 with the man advantage in the last three games.
The game’s three stars were: 1. Jack Flanagan (Timberwolves), 2. David Doucet (Timberwolves), 3. Robbie Rutledge (Capitals).