It was a challenge the Lewiston Maineiacs’ defense couldn’t refuse.
Faced with the league’s most prolific scorer in Sidney Crosby on Friday night, the Maineiacs used their strength on the blue line to extend their unbeaten streak to four games.
Defenseman Jonathan Paiement and forward Alexandre Picard each scored for the second consecutive night and Alex Bourret added the third goal as the Maineiacs upended the Océanic 3-1 in Rimouski.
Because of the hectic schedule this weekend, Brandon Verge started in net for Lewiston and ended up with his first win by stopping 22 of 23 shots.
Crosby, although held off the scoreboard in the goals column, managed an assist on the Océanic’s lone goal late in the first period. It was, however, Lewiston’s night to shine.
Twelve minutes into the first frame, Paiement notched his goal on the power play on feeds from Alex Bourret and Gabriel Balasescu. Rimouski countered in the final minute of the period on a goal by Danny Roussin, his fifth of the season.
The Maineiacs’ defense took over from there, allowing just 13 shots over the final two periods. Bourret put Lewiston ahead for good at 12:34 of the second period on assists from Francis Trudel and Mathieu Aubin, again on the power play, while Picard sealed the game with another goal 1:34 into the final frame.
With the win, Lewiston has now won or tied its last four games, and has moved to within four points of Baie-Comeau for the division lead, despite remaining in last place.
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