Charles Tardif lifted the Maine Nordiques past the Rochester Jr. Americans.
The forward’s hat trick helped the Nordiques to a 5-2 victory Saturday to earn the weekend sweep of the expansion Americans team in a NAHL East Division contest at the Rochester Ice Center in Fairpoint, New York.
Tardif, who now has 19 goals on the season, was held scoreless in Friday’s 4-3 shootout win over the Jr. Americans.
Nordiques coach Nick Skerlick said it was another game that they were lucky to earn two points.
“We didn’t possess the puck really well,” Skerlick said. “We were breaking out of our zone, guys were sprinting up the ice without the puck and leaving our (defensemen) out to dry. We just didn’t break out as a team tonight.”
Shane Kozlina opened Saturday’s scoring in the first period for the Nordiques with his third goal in his past four games.
He also had three assists in the contest.
Matteo Disipio tied the game early in the second period for Rochester when his shot beat Nordiques goalie Carter Richardson.
Skerlick said goaltending won them the game again, like Friday night. Richardson made 40 saves in the win.
Tardif scored his first of the game nearly six-and-half minutes into the middle frame.
“He scored a power-play (goal) to make it 2-1 and he got two goals in the third period,” Skerlick said. “For him, he has been on a little bit of a scoring draught.”
Jake Bernadet scored late in the period, giving Maine a 3-1 lead beating Florian Wade.
Wade made 14 saves in the loss.
Landon Brownlee put Rochester (14-12-3, 31 points) back within one early in the third period.
Tardif had two goals 53 seconds apart a handful of minutes later, putting the game away. Liam Gilmartin recorded his second assist of the game on the first tally, while defenseman Nick Bernardo and Kozlina had the helpers on the second goal.
“I’d say between Carter Richardson and Charles Tardif, those are two must-haves to win a championship, and those kids were on the Nordiques tonight,” Skerlick said.
The Nordiques (20-6-3, 43 points) are in a first-place tie in the East Division with the Maryland Black Bears (19-6-5, 43 points). The Nordiques welcome Cam Robichaud and Damon Bossie to The Colisee as the New Hampshire Mount Kings visit Wednesday for a 7 p.m. faceoff.
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