LEWISTON – The Lewiston Maineiacs started the fireworks early Wednesday, but fizzled like a bottle rocket shortly thereafter.

Cape Breton weathered an early Maineiacs goal, and the Screaming Eagles rattled off four unanswered to earn a 4-1 win over Lewiston in Game 4 of their first-round Quebec Major Junior Hockey League playoff series in front of 1,845 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee.

The Eagles lead the series 3-1, and can close things out Friday night at the Colisee in Game 5.

Olivier Roy, who posted a shutout in Game 2 and had allowed just five goals in three games, turned in another solid performance between the pipes, stopping the final 31 shots he saw to earn his third playoff win.

“He was outstanding,” Cape Breton coach Pascal Vincent said. “That’s what they do. They find ways to see the puck and make those big saves. He played again an outstanding game, but that’s the way he’s played all year.”

Roy, just 16 years old, has proven unflappable in these playoffs.

“The goalie is the guy you have to beat to win the game,” Roy said, “but it’s not just that. It’s a whole team game.”

“He’s keeping his composure, which is very impressive for a 16-year-old,” Maineiacs’ forward Stefano Giliati said. “But guys who are supposed to be putting the puck in the net, like me, (Stefan) Chaput and (Danick) Paquette, we haven’t scored much, and we have to focus on Friday to be able to do that.”

Despite the loss, though, Harding was encouraged by his team’s play overall.

“Our guys played hard, I have to say that,” Lewiston head coach Ed Harding said. “We got out-special teamed tonight, and I’ll take the blame for that.”

Still, the Maineiacs’ power play continued to struggle. Lewiston is now the only team in the playoffs that has yet to score with an extra skater through four games (0-for-19).

The vaunted Cape Breton power play was just 1-for-6 Wednesday, but the power play chances came at opportune times.

“If you don’t score on the power play, at least you create some momentum,” Vincent said. “That’s what the guys have been doing. We were finding the open spaces, moving the puck quickly and making simple decisions.”

Matt Bourdeau took advantage of an early defensive breakdown and slid the puck past Roy just 14 seconds into the game to put the home team ahead 1-0 for the second straight game.

Three power plays later, though – including a 1:48 chance on a 5-on-3 – Lewiston’s momentum disappeared.

“It’s moments like that we have to step up,” Giliati said. “We’ll work on that (Thursday), and we’ll fix it for Friday.”

Early in the second, with the Eagles on their first power play of the game, Joey Haddad scored his third of the series to put Cape Breton ahead, 2-1. A Robert Slaney goal late in the first had evened the score.

“The momentum change is that 5-on-3,” Harding said. “We need to have more of a killer instinct, and we don’t have that. They come right back and score – that’s a killer.”

Murdock MacLellan stuck Lewiston with the proverbial dagger at 11:36 of the third on a blistering shot over the glove hand of Jonathan Bernier on a 2-on-1 to make it 3-1, and Dean Ouellet slid the puck into an empty net later in the third to finish things off.

For Lewiston to win the series now, the Maineiacs will have to win three in a row over Cape Breton, including two on the road. The Maineiacs last won three games in a row from Jan. 18 through the 26.

“Any team where I’m behind the bench, we’re going to play hard,” Harding said. “It’s not over by a long shot.”