SYDNEY, Nova Scotia – The Cape Breton power play killed them early, turnovers killed them through the middle of the game and bus legs appeared to finish the Lewiston Maineiacs off.

The Screaming Eagles cruised to an 8-3 win in front of a packed house at Centre 200 on Friday night in Game 1 of the teams’ first-round playoff series.

In the Maineiacs’ locker room, the mantra was simple.

“We have to turn the page,” goaltender Jonathan Bernier said.

“Tomorrow is another game,” added defenseman Kevin Marshall.

“The beauty of this is, whether we played well and lost 1-0 or played like this and got blown out, they are still only ahead in the series 1-0,” Maineiacs coach Ed Harding said.

On the other side, with music blaring from the locker room, the Cape Breton players were in good spirits.

Their coach was still cautious.

“We know they are going to bounce back,” Eagles’ bench boss Pascal Vincent said. “They are a good team, and it’s still only one game.”

Cape Breton, which has been home for two weeks, looked the part of the rested, home-standing higher seed from the drop of the first puck, and parlayed that energy into three early Lewiston penalties.

“That was huge,” Cape Breton forward Joey Haddad said. “We’ve been able to be here, sleep in our own beds and get ready, where they were just here (last weekend), and had to go home and then come back again.”

The Eagles got point production from up and down the lineup, too, as second-liners Haddad, Nick MacNeil and Jordan Clendenning combined for 11 points on the night.

“(The top line) did a good job playing against their top line,” Clendenning said. “We knew we’d have a few more chances, and all year we’ve been able to spread the scoring around a bit, and that makes it harder for the other teams.”

Rookie goalie Olivier Roy was solid in his playoff debut, despite allowing three goals. He made the critical saves when the Maineiacs managed any kind of pressure.

The Maineiacs, meanwhile, had a hard time getting out of their own way, and their transitions through the center zone were choppy.

“We had a good game plan,” Harding said. “We have a good one for tomorrow, too, since Cape Breton hasn’t really seen it yet. It’s up to the boys to execute it now.”

Cape Breton’s aggressive forecheck also had plenty to do with those problems.

Cape Breton scored a pair of power play goals early in the first, part of a four-goal first that got the Eagles off to a much-needed fast start.

Lewiston got one back later in the first, but the Eagles scored another pair in the second to take a 6-1 lead.

With a 6-2 lead after two, Cape Breton scored another pair of power play markers to take a commanding 8-2 lead. Also in the third, Harding replaced Bernier with Kirk Rafuse. Bernier allowed six goals on 26 shots in two periods.

“I’ve given up six goals before,” Bernier said. “I’ve given up eight, 10 and even 12. I know it just wasn’t my night, and I take the blame for that, but I have to come back and be strong tomorrow. I can bounce back, and I will.”

Tom Michalik potted a rare goal at 10:07 of the third to make it 8-3.

The same two teams will meet Saturday night at 6 p.m. in Game 2 of the series.