LEWISTON – Mention of the Lewiston Blue Devils’ undefeated record these last few weeks has produced the same sarcastic response from nearly everyone: “Yeah, but who have they played?”
That list now includes archrival St. Dom’s.
And the Blue Devils are still undefeated.
Freshman Cam Poussard turned aside 20 shots and Casey Poussard had a goal and a beautiful assist to lead Lewiston to a 3-0 win over the Saints in front of an estimated crowd of 800 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee on Saturday.
“We answered a lot of the critics,” Lewiston coach Norm Gagne said. “People were saying we hadn’t played anybody. If St. Dom’s is supposed to be somebody, than we played somebody tonight.”
Cam Poussard’s play through the middle period, after his team gave him a 2-0 lead, was a big reason why.
“I had butterflies for him,” Gagne admitted. “It was a pressure situation for him, and he came up big.”
The young keeper stuffed Ben Randall on the doorstep at 8:36 of the second to keep the Devils (8-0) ahead by two.
“That was a big point in the game,” Cam Poussard said. “He got free, and I got a glove on it and knocked it down.”
Lewiston’s vaunted first line, which has combined for more than 75 points already this season, was tough enough for St. Dom’s to contain 5-on-5, but the Saints hurt themselves with a rash of penalties, giving Lewiston eight chances with a man advantage.
“You can’t play shorthanded all the time against a team like that,” St. Dom’s coach John Pleau said.
“It got a little chippy out there, and we kept our composure,” Gagne said. “We took advantage of a big 5-on-3 in the third.”
Already ahead 2-0, the Blue Devils worked a perfect tic-tac-toe play from Jordan Bourgoin to Jon Roy to Casey Poussard at 12:12 of the third period to salt the game away.
“We had just practiced the 5-on-3s (Friday),” Gagne said.
St. Dom’s had a 5-on-3 of its own later in third, but couldn’t sneak one by Cam Poussard.
“I was just counting down the minute at that point,” Cam Poussard said.
Neither team managed a goal in the first, and neither team appeared willing to take a risk. Lewiston outshot the Saints 10-4, thanks in large part to three power plays. St. Dom’s didn’t earn its first shot on net until six minutes had passed.
“Their Achilles’ heel is their defense,” Pleau said, “and we got it by them, but we weren’t selective on the good shots on goal.”
Casey Poussard fed Bourgoin through the center zone for a breakaway between two St. Dom’s defenders. Bourgoin sped into the Saints’ zone and fired the puck through Saints’ keeper Max Wiley’s legs to put the Blue Devils on top 1-0.
“That was a great pass from Casey that just snuck through,” Bourgoin said. “I think I caught the defense a little flat-footed.”
Robbie Leeman made it 2-0 at 7:14 of the middle frame on a juicy rebound to the left of the cage. Sam Cloutier’s shot hit Wiley square in the chest and sat on the ice. Before Wiley could close his trapper over the puck, Leeman put it past him.
“That’s probably the best game that line’s played all year,” Pleau said of Lewiston’s second unit.
Wiley finished with 25 saves on 28 shots.
Lewiston’s schedule only gets tougher, with upcoming games against Brunswick, Falmouth and Portland. St. Dom’s, meanwhile, will see Kennebunk on Wednesday in a rematch of the teams’ season opener.
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