MAINEiacs lose 5-4 to Huskies in shootout

There was good news and bad news for the Lewiston MAINEiacs on Wednesday night, as the team opened a four-game road trip against the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies. The good news was that the MAINEiacs were able to pick up a point. The bad news was that the Huskies picked up two, defeating Lewiston 5-4 in a shootout.

It took more than five minutes for the first shot on goal to be recorded, but the Huskies made that shot count. Jessyko Bernard scored on a shorthanded breakaway to put his team ahead. Rouyn-Noranda finished killing off Maxim Kazakov's penalty, but Jerome Raymond picked up a penalty moments later. This time, it was Lewiston scoring with the special teams, as Sam Henley deflected Dillon Fournier's shot in for the equalizer. Jason Kelly put the Huskies back on top at the 13:30 mark, as the home team took a 2-1 lead into the intermission.

The MAINEiacs came out with a strong start in the second period, scoring three straight goals. Christophe Lalonde tied the game at two on his first QMJHL goal, finishing off a feed from Alex Zafiris. Four minutes
later, Sam Carrier netted his second goal in three games, slamming home the rebound of Pierre-Olivier Morin's original shot. Olivier Dame-Malka also had an assist on Carrier's marker. With 7:35 remaining in the middle frame, Cole Hawes made a fantastic move, putting Lewiston ahead by a pair.

As soon as the puck was dropped after Hawes' goal, gloves hit the ice, as Ian Saab took on Alexandre Beauregard. The fight ended up serving as a momentum boost for Rouyn-Noranda, who got back within one just 26 seconds later. Alexis Bernier was the goal scorer, as Jason Kelly and Anthony Courcelles drew the assists.

Lewiston took a 4-3 lead into the second intermission, but the game was quickly tied in the third. Robbie DeFulviis scored from Jason Houde and Sean Girard at the 57-second mark, creating a brand new hockey game. Chances were few and far between during the third period, but the story was much different in overtime, as Nicholas Champion and Mickael Audette were both forced to make dazzling stops to preserve the tie.

The game advanced to a shootout, where the Huskies picked up the bonus point. Jessyko Bernard was the only player to find the back of the net, as he scored in the first round for Rouyn-Noranda. Robbie DeFulviis missed for the Huskies, while Sam Carrier, Pierre-Olivier Morin, and Jess Tanguy came up empty for Lewiston.

Mickael Audette got the win for Rouyn-Noranda, making 22 saves on 26 shots during the game, before a 3-for-3 effort in the shootout. Nicholas Champion suffered the shootout loss, turning aside 25 of the 29 shots he saw during the game, before allowing one goal on two shots during the shootout.

The MAINEiacs will attempt to gain a split with the Huskies on Friday, as the two teams match up again at 7:30. Friday night's game will be the first of three games in three nights for Lewiston, who will play a pair of games against Val-d'Or as well. The MAINEiacs' next home game is on October 8th at 7:00, as the Victoriaville Tigres come to town for the annual "Pink in the Rink" game.