For the second straight weekend, the L/A Nordiques faced the Long Beach Sharks. After being outscored a combined 18-0 in two games last weekend at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee, the Sharks were a stiffer test at home, but the Nordiques squeaked out a 5-4 victory at the Long Beach Municipal Ice Arena in Long Beach, New York.
“We traditionally don’t have a strong first period,” Nordiques assistant coach Eric Michaud, who was acting as head coach, said. “So we tried to weather storm and we knew they were going to come out strong after last weekend. So we were able to weather the storm and eventually get ahead. Once we got ahead, we were going to take it away.”
Head coach Cam Robichaud didn’t accompany the team to New York to attend to a personal matter.
Colby Audette had a goal and two assists for the Nordiques, while Andrew McCormick had three assists.
“Our depth, players definitely stepped up today,” Michaud said. “That’s why we have such a deep team, it’s great to have that happen just in case our top guys aren’t putting the puck in the net. We have our secondary scoring that can do the same.”
The Nordiques jumped out to a 1-0 lead when Adam Colclough potted his 16th goal of the season 3:49 into the game, with Andrew McCormick notching the assist on the play.
Long Beach responded with two goals. Noah Carlock tied the game at the 13:06 mark, and 34 seconds later Ryan Sandberg gave the Sharks a 2-1 lead.
With 3:34 remaining in the period, Audette notched his 15th goal of the season. Cole Ouellette and Nick Ventura set up the score.
Dino Mukovoz put the Sharks up 3-2 at the 3:15 mark of the second period before Donovan Tehan tied it up at the 4:47 mark on a power play for the Nordiques. Ventura and Audette were credited with the assists.
L/A took a 4-3 lead into the dressing room as Joshua Malone notched his sixth goal of the season with 1:04 remaining in the second period. McCormick notched his second assist of the night, and Patrick Romano also earned a helper.
Mukovoz tied the game up 4:14 into the third period.
The game remained tied for nine seconds before Crewz Berry scored his sixth goal of the season to give the Nordiques the final lead. Audette and McCormick had the assists.
Jason St. Pierre made 23 saves for the victory, while Ryan Cortez made 44 saves in the loss.
nfournier@sunjournal.com
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