Caps move closer to division crown

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Friday, March 27th 2009

Caps move closer to division crown

JASON SIMMONDS
The Journal Pioneer

SUMMERSIDE — The Summerside Western Capitals are one win away from playing for a Maritime Junior ‘A’ Hockey League championship.
The Capitals defeated the Miramichi Timberwolves 6-2 at Credit Union Place on Thursday night to take a 3-0 lead in the Roger Meek Division final. The Caps can sweep the best-of-seven series in Miramichi on Saturday.
“Our penalty kill won the game,” said Capitals assistant coach Scott Bridges. “We had some penalties, which you’re always going to have, but our penalty kill has been extra ordinary with (Steve) Brazil, Mikey (Mike MacIsaac), (Nathan) Snowie and (Greg) Paynter.”
The Capitals killed off all 11 Miramichi power plays and scored once on five man advantages.
“Our penalty kill set the tempo for our five-on-five play,” added Bridges.
Six different players — MacIsaac (1-1), Bradley Smith (1-1), Brett Gallant (1-1), Nathan DesRoches (1-1), Trevor Carmichael (1-1) and Nathan Snowie — scored for the Capitals.
“We all knew what was at stake as it was either going to be 3-0 or 2-1 going into their barn, and Miramichi is a difficult place to play,” said Capitals defenceman Spencer Corcoran, who added three assists.
Capitals goaltender Alex Dupuis turned in a solid 32-save effort.
“I’m feeling confident,” said Dupuis. “Since the start of playoffs, I’ve got my game going, I’m looking to continue playing the way I am and hopefully win a championship.”

Opens scoring
Smith’s power-play goal off a shot from the right point just seconds after captain Brett Gallant won a battle for the puck along the boards inside the blue-line opened the scoring at 13:02 of the first period.
MacIsaac, who had three breakaways on Miramichi goaltender Brad Dyke, made it 2-0 on his second chance at 17:06.
Jason Bergeron got the Timberwolves on the board 1:33 into the second period, but Snowie restored the Caps’ two-goal margin, 3-1, just 20 seconds later.
Gallant then scored the prettiest goal of the night to make it 4-1 at 13:08. MacIsaac raced to the puck in the right-wing corner, fed a cross-ice pass to Gallant, who was charging to the goal off the left wing, and he made no mistake one-timing the puck home.
Dylan Bellmore brought Miramichi to within 4-2 with 1:25 left in the middle frame. Carmichael and DesRoches (empty net) scored third-period goals.
“We got sloppy at the end of the second and any team that Billy (McGuigan) coaches isn’t going to lie down for sure,” said Bridges. “They were coming at us and we just wanted to do the smart things — chip the pucks in, chip the pucks out and be good in our own end.
“This team has responded every time and I said to (head coach) Kenny (MacDougall), ‘4-2 going into the third, we’ve been in a lot worse situations.’”

jpsports@journalpioneer.com Notes from Game 3 of
Meek Division final:
The game was played before a season-high crowd of 2,352 fans.

Spencer Corcoran (3) and Chad Locke (2) each had multiple-assist games for the Capitals.

Overall, the Timberwolves outshot the Capitals 34-31, thanks to a 15-6 margin in the third period.

The game’s three stars were: 1. Mike MacIsaac (Capitals), 2. Nathan Snowie (Capitals), 3. Trevor Carmichael (Capitals).

MacIsaac has been the first star in the first three games.

The game featured a heavyweight bout between the Caps’ Brett Gallant and Keith Bombaugh as time expired in the third period. Gallant was clipped with a high stick off a faceoff in the dying seconds.

Referee Mike Annear called 12 minors, one fighting major and one 10-minute misconduct against the Capitals. The Timberwolves received six minors, one fighting major, one 10-minute misconduct and one checking-from-behind game misconduct.