Alexandre Picard scores four times as Lewiston crushes Rouyn-Noranda.
By Justin Pelletier
Staff Writer

ROUYN-NORANDA, Quebec – After an abbreviated morning skate, Lewiston Maineiacs coach Mario Durocher told his players that they were the better team on Friday.

He told them to be patient, pointing out that even Rouyn-Noranda netminder Mathieu Poitras could eventually cave in and allow a goal or two or three or even five.

Alexandre Picard punched in four goals and finished with five points. Captain Francis Trudel also earned five points and Brandon Verge made 35 saves to lead the Maineiacs to a 7-2 win over Rouyn-Noranda Saturday night.

The win evens the best-of-seven series at a game a piece, giving the Maineiacs home ice advantage.

“That was the biggest thing tonight,” Durocher said. “We go back home tied at one. It is a new series now.”

A lopsided first period saw Lewiston jump ahead 2-0 while taking 18 shots at Poitras.

“That was the biggest goal,” Durocher said. “The first one gave us the momentum, and it was pretty much over after the second one.”

The Maineiacs opened it up in the second, scoring four goals in less than 10 minutes to put the game away.

Trudel got things started in the second at 5:27 when he jumped in on a rush and took a quick wrister from the right circle that bounced past Poitras. Trudel did it again at 7:49, sneaking a shot past Poitras after his shot from the point hit a defender and floated in over the prone netminder’s shoulder. Picard was setting a screen in front and Poitras never saw it coming.

“In the last six games or so of the regular season, Francis has been playing solid hockey,” Durocher said. “He is a 20-year-old and he is showing the leadership we need him to show.”

Picard notched his second goal at 11:22 on a great feed from the right circle by Sheldon Wenzel, driving Poitras from the net after allowing five goals on 27 shots.

His replacement, Philippe Roberge, did not fare better, as Picard finished the hat trick at 14:50 on the Maineiacs’ first shot against him.

“It was important for the team to beat Poitras after last night,” Durocher said.

In the third period, Picard scored his fourth, and Verge lost his shutout at 8:59 when Brent Aubin chipped a rebound in from the top of the crease. Aubin was subsequently thrown out for unsportsmanlike conduct.

Aubin’s penalty was in the middle of a parade of players from the ice to both penalty boxes. With the game out of hand, the Huskies appeared to be trying to send a message. At one point there were five Maineiacs in the box and seven Huskies. The teams combined for 124 penalty minutes on the game, including 73 for Rouyn-Noranda.

The Huskies added one last goal at 11:37 to complete the scoring.

“The third period was a joke,” Durocher said. “We had speed to beat them down low, and all they knew how to respond with was slashing.”

The series shifts to Lewiston where the teams will lock up for games on Tuesday and Wednesday night at the Colisee.

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