Maine Hockey Journal

Shawinigan Takes Game One

Lewiston, Me- After an even first period, it was all Shawinigan in the second and the third period.  The Cataractes spoiled the Maineiacs home opener with the 4-1 victory.  Pierre-Alexandre Vandall and Cédric Lalonde-McNicoll each had a goal and an assist in the victory.  Lucas Labelle continued to be the offensive leader for the Maineiacs as he notched his third goal of the season.  After a strong powerplay in the first game, they couldn’t get it going against the Cataractes.  In the second period, Lewiston had almost ten minutes of powerplay time and couldn’t convert.  It was the second straight game where Lewiston struggled on the powerplay.

Alexander Beaton broke in on Gabriel Girard to get the first good scoring chance but David Labrecque checked him from behind.  The Maineiacs went on the powerplay but it was uneventful.  Just past the ten minute mark, Lucas Labelle tipped a Tom Michalik shot from point into the goal.  Filip Janosik got the secondary assist.   Lewiston would go down two men down when Michael Ward and Patrick Cusack went to the box.  Maineiacs killed both penalties off.

After a Maineiac powerplay, Pierre-Alexandre Vandall had a little breakout but a Maineiacs’ defenseman broke up the play.  Shawinigan would tie it up at the 17:17 mark on the powerplay.  Pierre-Alexandre Vandall got an unassisted tally.  Lewiston had a great chance after the goal to respond.

15 seconds into the second, Maineiacs go on a five minute powerplay when Maxime Legault got called for slew footing.  Slew footing also is an automatic game misconduct.  Gabriel Lemieux got called for a penalty and the Maineiacs had a 5 on 3 powerplay.  They couldn’t convert on the chances.

Shawinigan had a great chance but Eric Gelinas stopped the break away and a penalty shot was awarded.  David Bouchard defended his teammate and got called for roughing. Vandall took the penalty shot but missed glove side on the penalty shot.

Lewiston continued to struggle on the man advantage. Shawinigan would take the opportunity to capitalize when Michael Bournival let a shot go all alone in the slot that got past Jonathan Connelly.  Nicholas Petersen got the lone assist on the goal.  Lewiston had great chance as they passed it around going down the ice.  The last pass deflected off a stick before the shot was taking.  Defenseman Tommy Gauthier gave the Cataractes the 3-1 lead with 3:59 remaining.  Cédric Lalonde-McNicoll and Gabriel Lemieux got the helpers.

Maineiacs had an opportunity 3:30 into the third when puck bounced around the crease.  Billy Lacasse got called for checking from behind at the 6:14 mark.  After Lacasse’s powerplay, Lewiston had a 2 on 1 but the shot went into the gut of Girard.

Michael Ward got called for tripping.  Off the face-off Tom Michalik tried to make a pass but Cedric Lalonde McNicoll intercept the pass and made it 4-1.  Vandell got the lone assist at the 9:23 mark.  Etienne Brodeur had a great chance but shot it past the crossbar.  Matt Bourdeau goes to the box for interference.  Brodeur goes off for goaltender interference at the 14:39 mark.  Lewiston called a time out late in the game but the game was out of hand.

Jonathan Connelly made 15 saves and recorded his second loss of the season.  Gabriel Girard looked like he stole the show but the statistics are deceiving as he made 37 saves.   Most of the saves were right at him.  The biggest stat of the night was the powerplay chances.  Lewiston went 0 for 7 including the five minute major.  Shawinigan was 2 for 8 with the man advantage.  The three stars were:

3. Charles-Olivier Roussel (Shawinigan)
2. Cedrick Lalonde-McNicoll (Shawinigan)
1. Pierre-Alexandre Vandall (Shawinigan)

The two same teams go at it again at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee at 7pm tonight

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