L/A Nordiques forward Caleb Labrie (19) works the puck behond New England Stars goalie Greg Moon (29) during their game at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee on Friday. (RAM Sport photo)
In his first start with the L/A Nordiques, Sage Broda saw familiar faces firing pucks in his direction Friday.
The Nordiques acquired Broda this week from the New England Stars, and Friday, he went up against his old club at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee, making 30 saves in a 3-1 victory to pick up his 13th win of the season.
“He did well tonight, he made the stops that he needed to,” L/A coach Cam Robichaud said. “He was real excited to play his first game against his old team. He had a little fire in his belly and he was ready to take on his old club.”
After a dominating first period in which the Stars had a 14-6 shot advantage, New England broke the scoreless tie at the 6:38 mark of the second period. Tyson Gudaitis potted his eighth goal of the season.
The goal woke up the Nordiques, and they went to work on the power play. Caleb Labrie tied the game up at one with his 19th goal of the season with Connor Kennedy and Cole Ouellette notching the helpers at the 8:40 mark. Twenty seconds later, Clifford Ogle notched his sixth goal of the season with Kennedy and J.P. Chauvin picking up the assists.
L/A extended its lead 8:23 into the third period when Andre McCormick notched his fifth goal of the season on the power play with Evan Sullivan and Kennedy picking up the assists.
The Nordiques went 3-for-7 on the man advantage while the Stars went 0-for-8.
“Our power play was working tonight, and so was our (penalty kill),” Robichaud said. “We have had a lot of opportunities at both and we did well with special teams. Typically whenever we play them, it does come down to special teams because it was a tight game 5-on-5. We came up on top because of special teams tonight.”
Midway through the third period, tempers boiled over as Patrick Romano of the Nordiques and Nick Johnson of the Stars each picked up five-minute majors for fighting and were ejected. Johnson also received a five-minute major for roughing and the Nordiques received a power play out of the scuffle. Eric Glover and Hunter Norris of New England and Nordiques Labrie and Lucas Perry received roughing calls on the play.
Another fight broke out with 7:31 remaining when Chris Barone of New England and Evan Sullivan picked up a fighting major and were ejected. Armand O’Keefe of the Nordiques also received a fighting major as the third man in, and also a game misconduct.
“There were some scrums that the referees thought were fighting majors,” Robichaud said. “It was young guys working hard and competing, kind of getting on each other’s nerves. It happens, it’s a contact sport.”
Greg Moon made 19 saves for New England.
nfournier@sunjournal.com
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