Bissonnette's shootout goal lifts MAINEiacs to 4-3 win over Moncton

OFFICIAL MAINEiacs GAME WRAP

Matthew Bissonnette spent parts of two seasons as a Moncton Wildcat, before becoming a Lewiston MAINEiac last winter. On Friday night in Fredericton, Bissonnette was the hero, as his goal in the third round of the shootout lifted the MAINEiacs to a 4-3 win over the Wildcats at Willie O'Ree Place.

After a scoreless first period, the MAINEiacs started the scoring in the second. Newcomer Cole Hawes netted his first goal of the preseason, with Olivier Dame-Malka drawing the lone assist. James Melindy tied the score with a power play goal just before the midway mark of the contest, but 42 seconds later, Lewiston
regained the lead. Hawes picked up his second point of the period, picking up an assist on Francis Beauvillier's goal at 10:31. Jess Tanguy had the other assist on Beauvillier's second of the preseason. However, Moncton pulled even with 31 seconds remaining in the period, as Daniel Pettersson connected for a power play goal.

With 3:37 left in the third, Pettersson scored again, giving the Wildcats their first lead of the game. The MAINEiacs weren't about to leave New Brunswick empty handed, as Michael Chaput knotted the score 1:14 later. Pierre-Olivier Morin and Zach Shannon picked up the helpers on Chaput's equalizer.

With the game tied at three, the two teams went to a shootout. Daniel Pettersson and Francis Beauvillier missed in the first round, before Alex Saulnier and Zach Shannon exchanged successful attempts in round two. In the third round, Allain Saulnier led off with a miss for Moncton, setting the stage for former Wildcat, Matthew Bissonnette. Bissonnette clinched the win for the MAINEiacs, burying his shootout attempt.

Andrey Makarov made the start in goal for Lewiston, and stopped 14 out of 15 shots in the first half of the contest. Tyler Piercy came in to stop seven of the nine shots he faced, before getting the win in the shootout. Philippe Trudeau made 15 saves on 16 shots for Moncton, before Brandon Thibeau stopped 21 of 23 in relief. Thibeau was the goaltender of record.

With the win, the MAINEiacs conclude the preseason with a record of 3-3, and will now look ahead to opening the season on September 10th against Rimouski at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee.