Lewiston is in the playoffs despite losing Sunday

Lewiston, ME– After a tough first period, the Lewiston Maineiacs battled back from a two goal deficit to tie the contest with eight seconds remaining. The Chicoutimi Sagueneens finally prevailed in the shootout 3-2.

They crawl into the playoffs as the final team in after the Val d’Or Foreurs lost to the Montreal Juniors 11-1.

“It did matter the way we came back and played well,” says Maineiacs Head Coach Don MacAdam on the final score between Montreal and Val d”Or.

“11 out of 10,” says Maineiacs forward Billy Lacasse on the intensity of the third period. “Everybody knew the meaning of the game. The intensity was at the highest we seen this year.”

“It gave us some confidence going into the playoffs,” says Maineiacs goaltender Peter Delmas who made 37 saves and was named the game’s first star. “Even though we didn’t get the win, the third period effort, the guys gave the most (effort).”

After the Maineiacs couldn’t convert on a powerplay late in the game, Billy Lacasse didn’t give up. He pushed the puck cross the line with eight seconds left. Alexander Beaton and Steeven Jacques were awarded the assists.

“I didn’t know that,” says Lacasse on how much time there was on the clock. “I was on the bench right after and looked up at the clock.”

The Maineiacs were on the wrong end of controversial penalties in the first stanza. Danick Paquette crashed the net with the puck and was pushed from behind. Paquette got the roughing call.

On the powerplay, Nicolas Deschamps made it 1-0 at the 10:58 mark of the opening stanza.

About thirty seconds later, Lewiston would get called for a questionable off sides. At the 11:33 mark, Max Gratchev dropped the gloves after being tangled up with Olivier Painchaud. Gratchev got the instigator, a ten misconduct, and a game misconduct.

It’s uncommon for teams to take the opponent’s best player off the ice but this time it was the third team (officials) that did that tonight,” says Don MacAdam.

Chicoutimi would go on a 5 on 3 powerplay when Denis Reul went off for boarding at the 12:20 mark and Billy Lacasse went off for interference at 12:55. Lewiston’s penalty kill stepped up.

Paquette would go to the sin bin with 3:12 remaining in the first. Mathieu Tousignant would give the Sagueneens the 2-0 lead with 1:58 to play. Jacob Lagace and Nicolas Deschamps assisted on the play.

Maineiacs had the advantage for powerplays in the second. They couldn’t convert four chances

After a no goal call at the 8:58 mark, Samuel Finn, made sure the puck crossed the line four seconds later. He blasted one past John Nauta. Alexander Beaton and Dominic Savoie assisted on the play.

After a scoreless overtime session, Jacob Lagace got the lone goal in the shootout.

John Nauta made 33 saves in the victory. “He played very well,” says Chicoutimi’s head coach Richard Martel. “I am happy for him.

The Maineiacs travel to Drummondville next weekend to start the playoff in a seven game series. The schedule hasn’t been announced.

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