The L/A Nordiques extended their season-opening win streak to six games with a 5-2 victory over the Northeast Generals, as 580 fans took in the Nordiques’ home opener at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee.
The Nordiques were battling through an illness that is spreading around the locker room. They were further shorthanded because Armand O’Keefe missed the game after being called for a game misconduct for kneeing last Saturday in the win over Skylands.
“We are trying to push through and get healthy,” coach Cam Robichaud said. “We were a little out of sorts with our lineup tonight, as we had a suspension. That made us to change up our lines, so I think that played into a little bit of sloppiness. Towards the end, it seemed like we were getting a little bit into a rhythm.”
Nick Bisson and Conor Kennedy each had a goal and an assist to lead the Nordiques on Friday. JP Chauvin and Sergei Anisimov also had two assists. Those players had such a big role because the top line’s top priority was to be a defensive line tonight.
“The line that usually gets us some points, Joe Bisson, Colby Audette and Sam Frechette, they still had some points, but their focus was more to shutdown the top line of the Generals,” Robichaud said. “They did a pretty good job with that. With their job being kind of shutdown line tonight, that kind of gave some opportunities for some other lines to step up.”
Joe Bisson gave the Nordiques a 1-0 lead, JP Chauvin and Nick Bisson had the assists, with 5:10 remaining in the first period.
After the intermission, Carson Asper tied the score for the Generals 72 seconds into the second stanza. The assists went to Colin Day and Dylan Figueroa.
Right before the nine-minute mark, Josh Sanchez gave the lead back to the Nordiques with his sixth goal of the season. Anisimov picked up his fourth assist on the goal.
Conor Kennedy put the Nordiques up 3-1 at the 9:02 mark of the third period for his second goal of the year, with Josh Malone and Chauvin setting the tally up. Kyle Secor stretched the lead to 4-1 only 47 seconds later. Anisimov set up the the goal.
Thaddeus Marcola cut the deficit in half, scoring the Generals’ second goal with 1:41 remaining in the game.
Nick Bisson capped off the scoring with an empty net goal with 23 seconds remaining.
Daniel Miller made 25 saves in the victory, while Devin Schneider made 20 in the loss.
The Nordiques host the Maine Wild on Saturday at 7 p.m. before facing the Generals on Sunday down in Attleboro, Massachusetts.
Twin City 3, Springfield 2, OT
Nicolas Poirier made an instant impact.
The defenseman from Cowansville, Quebec, scored with 1:35 remaining in overtime on the power play to give the Twin City Thunder their first ever USPHL victory as they defeated the Springfield Pics 3-2 on Friday.
Porier just joined the team at the beginning of the week after spending last season with Ulysse Prep.
Matt Hanlon and David Martinek had the assists on the goal.
“He’s a welcomed addition, he’s a solid defenseman,” Twin City coach Doug Friedman said. “Obviously … he can shoot the puck.”
Aleksi Petrow gave the Thunder a 1-0 lead just past the halfway point of the first period, his second tally of the year. The lead didn’t last long, though, because Gene Bouthiette tied the game up at the 10:46 mark. The assists went to Dom Ingham and Mike Wilson.
The Thunder took the lead when Zach Desmarais scored his second goal of the season with 3:38 remaining in the period. Etienne Crousle picked up the assist.
Lewiston native Jeromey Rancourt returned to action after missing the start of the season with a leg injury. Friedman said Rancourt worked hard to get back into the lineup sooner than expected.
Rancourt’s night came to end early as he was given a game misconduct for checking to the head at the 5:57 mark of the second period. Springfield’s Ethan Cervonayco was shown the gate also for charging.
“There was certainly some extracurriculars that took place for both team,” Friedman said. “On a discipline side, we certainly need to be better with that as a team; if we want to have success we got to make better decisions. Fortunately our special teams did a great job, the penalty kill was spot-on tonight.”
Noe Turdjmann tied contest at 2-2 midway through the third period, with Ethan Bliss and John Miller notching the assists on the power play tally. David Martinek was in the box for cross checking.
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