The Edmundston Blizzard started the overtime period with a 4-on-3 powerplay on Friday night at the Grant Harvey Centre. Applying pressure in the Fredericton Red Wings’ defensive zone early, a close shot was deflected by goalie Morgan Kini’s left pad.
The puck bounced to the side of the net where a Blizzard player was waiting, banking in the winning goal with 36 seconds passing by in overtime. Edmundston won the season opener at the Grant Harvey Centre, spoiling the Red Wings season opener.
The aggressive match had been tied for the entirety of the third period, but Edmundston was able to sneak by for a win. Although the Blizzard players lead in shots on goal 36-28, Morgan Kini said it didn’t affect the game but it was still early in the season so the team has lots of time to mesh and get better.
“We’re just all getting use to each other still,” said Kini.
The Red Wings were dominant early on, controlling the pace of the game, often having the defenders trail behind the speedy offence. They were unfazed by the relentless physical play style of the Blizzard.
Just four minutes and 18 seconds into the game, centre Spencer Charbonneau, off an assist from Mac Eachern, had found the back of the net with a low left corner shot from the point, trickling over the line, barely beating the Edmundston goalie.
The 1-0 lead prevailed for the rest of the first period and momentum seemed to carry over for the Red Wings, into much of the second. As the Red Wings looked forward to
defending their lead going into the third period, the continuous pressure of the Blizzard offence paid dividends.
They managed to break free of our gridlock defence and squeeze one in, beating the buzzer to which there was but four seconds left, turning the tide of momentum in the opposite direction.
“We just needed to turn things [back] around,” said Kini, when asked about the mindset going into the locker room following the last-minute shot.
The third period, although a lack of scoring, was highly competitive. The four Fredericton penalties to Edmundston’s one gave the defence quite the test, leading to a margin in shots on goal. The defences efforts were enough to withstand the multiple power plays, forcing overtime.
Before the Red Wings players could properly set up, the Blizzard had made its way to
one end of the ice and forced a shot on goal, then another, which went in 36 seconds into overtime.
Edmundston won 2-1 in overtime.
