The effort was a little better, but the result was the same for the Lewiston Maineiacs on Wednesday.
After a dismal performance in a 6-2 loss against Halifax Tuesday, Lewiston played a bit harder but still came up short in a 3-2 loss to Saint John at Harbour Station.
“We still got out-battled,” said Maineiacs assistant coach Ed Harding. “I wasn’t very happy about that. We battled a little harder in the second and third periods.
Lewiston had strung together three straight wins before these two road losses. The victory moves Saint John into sixth in the Eastern Division with 32 points, just six shy of fifth-place Lewiston. Prior to Tuesday’s win, Saint John had won just once in its last 10 games.
“Half our guys competed hard and the other half didn’t,” said Harding, whose club hosts Saint John Friday. “I’m very disappointed that we’re coming home with no points.”
Lewiston dropped its second straight when Kevin Coughlin scored at 8:20 of the third period. The game winner was off a transition play and came on the heels of a Maineiacs tying goal early in the period.
“They scored all three goals on rushes,” said Harding. “Obviously, that’s something we’re going to work on tomorrow.”
Felix Schutz and Jonathan Laberge each assisted on Coughlin’s 12th of the season. Harding said Lewiston defended the play well but had a breakdown that led to the game-winner.
“It was a three-on-three, and we had a good backcheck,” said Harding, “but we missed two assignments, and they put it in the net.”
Lewiston goaltender Travis Fullerton faced 30 shots and stopped 27 in a solid outing.
“I was very happy with the way Travis Fullerton played,” said Harding.
Saint John got on the board first at 14:00 of the first period on a Vincent Lambert power-play goal.
Lewiston tied it at 12:46 of the second period on Marc-Andre Cliche’s 18th of the year, but minutes later, Jonathan Laberge put Saint John ahead at 14:14.
Lewiston knotted things again early in the third. Jonathan Paiement scored on the power play at 2:19. Stefan Chaput assisted both Lewiston goals.
“I think it was off a broken play,” said Harding. “He just jumped into the play, and we hit him and he put one glove high.”
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