It appeared that the Lewiston Maineiacs were reverting to their old ways early Sunday, allowing 12 shots and firing just two at Acadie-Bathurst netminder Gabriel Bouthillette, while falling behind by a pair of goals.
In the second period and for the rest of the game, however, the Maineiacs drew from a confidence they derived from a recent string of wins, coming from behind to beat the Titan 4-3 at the K.C. Irving Regional Centre in front of 1,858.
“We played miserably in the first period,” said Maineiacs’ assistant coach Ed Harding. “We spent all this time getting a game plan together, getting ready, and we thought we had a pretty good plan, and they didn’t execute it at all. We let the boys know it between the first and second periods, and it seemed to make a difference.”
Lewiston goaltender Jonathan Bernier allowed just three goals on 29 shots. It was thanks to Bernier’s exceptional play down the stretch in the third period that the Maineiacs were able to cling to their one-goal cushion.
“He made some big stops in that period,” said Harding. “He looked like he had a lot of confidence. He was out at the top of his crease and fighting through screens all night.”
The win is the Maineiacs’ first in four tries against the Titan this season.
After a dismal first period which saw the Maineiacs take just two shots and allow two power play goals, Stefano Giliati and Chad Denny scored back-to-back shorthanded goals to send the Titan into a tailspin.
“That first goal, I think that’s really what got us going,” said Harding. “Giliati and (Stefan) Chaput, they were using their speed to create havoc in the center zone, and Gili made a nice deke on the goalie.You could see the guys on the bench and their heads perk up a bit.”
After that, Bathurst took a rash of penalties, one of which resulted in an Eric Castonguay power play goal to give the Maineiacs a 3-2 lead. Castonguay set up Mathieu Aubin for Lewiston’s fourth goal less than two minutes later to pad the lead.
Petr Pohl steered an Olivier Labelle pass past Bernier with 4:04 left in the game to tighten things up, but Bernier stuffed the Titan the rest of the way to preserve the victory.
Notes: While the Maineiacs will return home this morning, Aubin, Chad Denny and Jodoin will hop a flight to Drummondville for the first game of two against a team of Russian all-stars. Jodoin will coach the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League all-stars in a two-game showcase starting today and ending Wednesday in Moncton.
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