Colby Gilbert and Derek Bailey were nearly heroes, Travis Fullerton nearly won his QMJHL debut, and the Lewiston Maineiacs nearly took two crucial points from division-leading Chicoutimi in the teams’ first game back after the holiday break.

Nearly, but not quite.

Bailey put Lewiston ahead with six minutes to play on a faceoff win by Gilbert in the Chicoutimi zone.

The Maineiacs appeared to be hanging on until two consecutive late-game minors against Lewiston’s Maxime Mathieu and Jonathan Paiement gave the Sagueneens a 5-on-3 advantage for 1:02. Halfway into that advantage, Maxime Tanguay scored his first goal of the season to help Chicoutimi salvage a 2-2 tie with the Maineiacs in front of 4,484 at the Centre Georges Vezina.

The Maineiacs’ coaches could be reached for comment following the game.

Fullerton and Marc-Andre Perron were the Maineiacs’ goaltenders Monday night, as both Jaroslav Halak and Jonathan Bernier are away in international competition. Fullerton got the call for his first start, and played a solid game, turning aside 28 shots in 65 minutes and earning the first star of the game.

Fullerton’s counterpart, Alexandre Vincent, recorded 25 saves.

In overtime, it was Vincent that saw the bulk of the action. Also in overtime, Lewiston had a goal waved off after a skater knocked the net off its mooring prior to the puck crossing the line.

Gilbert, meanwhile, notched his first career goal at 17:52 of the second period.

The tie extends Lewiston’s unbeaten streak to five games, and the point lifts the Maineiacs into ninth overall in the league with 39 points, two back of eighth-place Cape Breton and three back of Halifax for seventh. Lewiston is 16-16-7.

The teams played a scoreless first period during which both teams had chances, but neither could capitalize.

Fullerton got his feet wet early, facing a couple of quick shots before the Maineiacs defense clamped down. On the other end, Vincent saw his share of rubber, as well, but he, too, turned aside every shot he faced.

In the second frame, with the Maineiacs just coming back to full strength after a Travis Mealy minor penalty, Chicoutimi got its near-capacity crowd on its feet. Francis Lemieux took advantage of Chad Denny’s misstep and subsequent tumble and closed in on Fullerton, roofing a shot to give the Sagueneens a 1-0 lead.

Gilbert responded with his goal when he pounded at a Mathieu rebound in front of Vincent.

Lewiston will travel to Baie-Comeau today for its second game in two days and will then have another seven-day stretch without playing. Most of the players will be allowed to return home to their families for an extended holiday break before getting back to work next Wednesday at the Colisee.