Wildcats Dominate Top Team in the West, Titan Beat Mooseheads in OT.

 Photo: DanielStLouis

    Moncton NB: The Moncton Wildcats took on the Drummondville Voltigeurs tonight in an absolute barn burner. The #1 ranked team in the east versus the #1 ranked team in the west. The big story line going into this one was that Rudy Guimond won the crease over Mathis Rousseau for this big game. We also saw the return of Dylan MacKinnon and Gabe Smith, both coming back from injuries. 

    The first was a very defensive battle with both teams unable to put one in the net. Shots were 13-11 after the first. Most notable moment of the period was when Dylan MacKinnon mixed things up a bit with David Bosson. The crowd got rowdy as MacKinnon fired them up. 

    The second was a different story. Moncton upped the physicality even more with a couple massive hits by Etienne Morin and Vincent Collard. 6:23 into the period Preston Lounsbury got the crowd on their feet. Gill and Johansson with the assists. Shortly after at 9:26, Vincent Collard buried his 22nd of the year with help from Cote and Morin. Some huge saves by Guimond helped the Cats keep the lead throughout the second. At 14:52, Caleb Desnoyers with a beautiful spin-a-rama pass to Vidicek right in front of the net and he buried his 33rd of the year. Morin also had another assist on that goal. 

    The stage was set for an entertaining third period and it did not disappoint. The Voltigeurs finally got one past Guimond 6:22 into the frame with a goal by William Dumont. Boudreau and Bosson had the assists for that one. The physicality continued throughout the third with chippy play by both sides. Less than 4 minutes left in the game, the Voltigeurs were on the power play with the goalie pulled, but a mad scramble at the blue line allowed Dyllan Gill to launch it into the empty net to solidify the W.

    Rudy Guimond made 42 saves on 43 shots in this contest, while Riley Mercer made 33 saves on 36 shots. The attendance at the Avenir Centre was a solid 5731.

   

    This wasn't the only great game this evening as the Acadie-Bathurst Titan hosted the Halifax Mooseheads. The first period was all Mooseheads as they scored three unanswered goals. 1:16 into the game Braeden MacPhee opened the scoring unassisted. At 5:03 and 5:23, Callum Aucoin scored two straight goals 20 seconds apart. The first was assisted by Daniel Walters and the second was assisted by Brady Schultz and Braeden MacPhee. 

    The Titan tried to spark the comeback in the second but couldn't get one past Nicolas Gillham-Cirka, even though they out shot the Moose 12-5. 

    The third period was much better for the Titan. At 10:08, Tyson Goguen started the comeback with help by Pilgrim-Edwards. Goguen wasn't done yet though as he sparked a final minute push potting his second of the night at 19:38 into the final frame. Sharkey and Huggan got the assists on that one. It was looking bleak, but with three seconds left in the game, Colby Huggan forces OT. Laberge and St-Onge helped out with the magical goal. 

    Somehow this game went to overtime, but we didn't get to watch very much free hockey, as Emile Perron wins the game for the Titan. St-Onge and Sharkey both got their second assists of the night on that one. Nicolas Gillham-Cirka made 38 saves on 42 shots for the Moose, while Joshua Fleming made 17 saves on 20 shots for the Titan. Attendance was 1797 at the K.C. Irving. 

Tomorrow the Voltigeurs take on the Islanders at the Eastlink Centre. The Cats won't get the chance to catch a break as they take on the number 2 ranked team in the west, the Armada at home at the Avenir. And we've got another all maritime battle between the Sea Dogs and the Eagles at Centre 200.