Maine Hockey Journal

Poussard records another shutout

Lewiston, ME – Almost half of the game’s Lewiston goaltender Cam Poussard play end in a shutout.

Tonight was no different as he posted his 22nd career shutout to earn his 48th career victory for Lewiston, (10-0-1) who continue to roll in Eastern Class A with the 6-0 win over Bangor (6-6) on Wednesday evening at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee.

“It’s impressive,” said Blue Devils coach Jamie Belleau said. “His focus and athleticism are wonderful right now and he’s making the big stop when we need it. The team builds off that as well.”

Bangor High School coach Denis Collins was impressed with Lewiston.

“I enjoyed playing against them because they are a class act,” he said. “They can play the game. They played very well. The way hockey should play throughout the state.”

It was a slow start for the Blue Devils who were missing a member of their top line in Ben Wigant.

According to Belleau, Wigant is out with an undisclosed injury. Eric Morin primarily took his place alongside Sam Cloutier and Colt Steele.

“We played Thornton Academy and Bangor without Wigant,” Belleau said.

Lewiston broke the ice 14:08 into the contest when Steele dumped the puck in and Devon Beland picked the top corner to go into the locker room with a 1-0 lead.

“We knew that Bangor was going to come in here hunger,” Belleau said. “Since the last time we played them, they have had some bumps in the road. They are struggling a little bit and they needed a win against a so-called Tier One team.”

Bangor had Lewiston where they wanted them after one period.

“Anytime you can stick with a team like that in the first period is good,” Collins added. “Obviously, they are deep, good, and skilled.”

After Poussard stopped a breakaway opportunity on Phil Frost early in the period, the offense for Lewiston went to work. Jake Bergeron fed Steele with a long pass, firing a wrist shot to light the lamp at the 3:54 mark.

“We broke the ice in the second period where got a couple of goals,” Belleau stated. “After that I thought we handled the game pretty well. I was pleased with all facets of the game tonight.”

Christopher Howat could only keep Bangor in the game for so long. After making two saves, of the spectacular variety, the Blue Devils scored two quick goals. On a 3-on-0 Beland and Matt Therrien fed Matt Malenson to make it 3-0 at the 8:40 mark. Only 46 seconds later Steele found the back of the net for the second time in the period. Brandon Tiner was credited with the lone assist.

“You can only stop so much rubber in one night,” Collins said of his goaltender.

Cody Dussault stretched the lead to 5-0 early in the third with a wrist shot from the top of the circle. Ryan Lemelin had the only assist goal. Therrien would get his second point of the night, this time a goal at the 9:08 mark.

Poussard turned aside 13 shots while Howat made 33 saves.

Lewiston was 0-for-1 on the power play while Bangor was 0-for-3

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