LEWISTON — Once again, the Lewiston offense was firing on cylinders.
Alex Rivet, Joe Bisson and Sam Story each had two goals in a 9-1 victory over Thornton Academy at Androscoggin Bank Colisee on Wednesday night.
For the season, the Blue Devils have scored 32 times. They allowed their first goal in the third period against the Trojans.
“I thought for for two periods we played well,” Lewiston coach Jamie Belleau said. “I thought we played well both offensively and defensively. I thought we moved the puck well, but in the third period, I wasn’t at all pleased with the way we came out. I thought we broke down defensively two or three times in the third. If you get into those bad habits in a close game (the opposition) can exploit you.”
Thornton had three of its four power play chances in the third period, when the Trojans scored on a 5-on-3 power play. Lewiston was 3-for-7 on the man advantage.
The players know they will work on their mistakes soon.
“It was a good test for us,” Rivet said of being on the penalty kill. “We let in a (penalty kill) goal in, but it was 5-on-3. “We just have to learn from it. We probably will break it down in practice tomorrow, especially in the defensive zone.”
It was a learning experience for the young Trojans.
“Every single game is an opportunity to get better, even at every timeout to be honest with you,” Thornton coach Jamie Gagnon said. “At this point of the season, going up against a very strong team that’s deep, we got an opportunity to see some guys compete and certainly at a pace we haven’t experienced yet this season.”
Lewiston (3-0) started to control play midway through the first period.
Alex Robert entered the offensive zone and fired a slap shot on Golden Trojans’ freshman netminder Seth Dube. The puck went between Dube’s legs to give the Blue Devils the 1-0 lead at the 8:43 mark. Jonathan Sturgis was credited with the lone assist.
“I thought we stretched the ice pretty good,” Belleau said. “I thought we moved the puck pretty good, in the neutral zone, I thought our transition in the neutral zone was good, and I thought our (defense) moved the puck nice and quick. We were able to get to the offensive blue line with speed for two periods, and in the third period I thought we got away from our game.”
The Blue Devils continue to pressure the young goalie. Rivet made it 2-0 when the sophomore forward skated alone into the slot and went top shelf 39 seconds after Robert’s goal. Jeromey Rancourt and Brady Cusson notched assists.
Bisson scored a power-play goal with 21 seconds remaining in the stanza for a 3-0 lead. Sturgis recorded another assist.
Bisson opened the scoring for Lewiston in the second period. Kyle Morin went in for a scoring chance but was foiled by a Dube poke check. Bisson, who was trailing the play, grabbed the loose puck in the slot and fired it into the cage at 2:28.
“They were definitely insurance goals to put our team ahead,” Bisson said. “I wouldn’t have gotten them without with my linemates. They shot the puck on goal, and I was there for the rebound.”
Rivet picked up his second goal of the game at 3:48 of the second, with Griffin Wade and Rancourt picking up the assists.
The Blue Devils were given an extended look on the power play when Thornton’s Tanner McFarren took a boarding major. Lewiston scored two goals during the five-minute advantage.
Cole Ouellette scored courtesy of Brad McLellan. Story stretched the lead with help from Sam Frechette and Jean-Luc Dostie.
In the third, Brendon Croteau made it 8-0 with an assist from Wade.
Thornton (2-1) finally got on the board on Chase Wescott’s goal with 4:22 remaining.
Story capped the scoring with his second of the game, set up by Rancourt’s third assist.
Jacob Strout made 16 saves in the victory. Dube stopped 28 shots.
nfournier@sunjournal.com
Send questions/comments to the editors.
