Ivan Hat Trick Gives Eagles Overtime Win In Bathurst
NOTES FROM THE GAME
– Ivan Ivan completed a hat trick in overtime to give the Eagles a 5-4 victory over the Acadie-Bathurst Titan
– The Eagles on four separate occasions came back to tie the game.
– Brayden Schmitt chipped in three assists, Samuel Johnson collected two helpers while Luke Patterson & Zach Biggar also scored in the victory.
It was a back and forth game and neither team took long to start the scoring. Bobby Orr scored on the first shot of the night for the home team at the 1:53 mark, but it was a tie game before the six minute mark after Ivan finished a passing play just five seconds into the power play.
Both sides scored again before period’s end. Markas Samenas put the home side ahead when the puck came to in front of the net, but his goal was neutralized on Ivan’s second marker- which just like the first, was assisted by Johnson & Schmitt.
The Eagles outshot the Titan 13-8 in the second stanza, but it was Bathurst’s Dominik Godin who netted the only goal of the period as he found a loose puck at the side of the net. However, the Eagles would come back twice more in the third period.
Patterson showed some persistence in making the game 3-3. His pass to the front of the net bounced off Ty Higgins, but the puck bounced back to him and put a tying goal by Joshua Flemming.
Before period’s end, both teams found the back of the net on the power play. Titan captain Cole Larkin blasted a go ahead goal through traffic and by Nicolas Ruccia before the halfway mark of the period. The goal was countered when, on the dying seconds of a man advantage, Biggar tipped an Olivier Houde shot past Flemming.
Despite a game with no shortage of chances, the overtime was conservative- there weren’t any shots in the first half of the overtime period. The best chance may have been when Ivan attempted to the “lacrosse” move. That didn’t succeed in ending the game on that play, but on a later shift the 20 year old cut to the front of the net and outwaited Flemming for his first career hat trick and an Eagles victory.
Ruccia picked up the win in the Eagles goal, stopping 21 of 25 shots. Flemming took the loss, stopping 34 of 39.
The Eagles will now head home for a weekend of home dates, beginning on Friday night against the Moncton Wildcats! Tickets can be purchased at https://bit.ly/3Wk3a1S. They are also available for purchase in person at the Centre 200 box office and by the phone during box office hours at 902-564-2200
THREE STARS OF THE GAME
1. Bobby Orr (Acadie-Bathurst) 1 goal, 1 assist
2. Ivan Ivan (Cape Breton) 3 goals, won 14 of 19 faceoffs
3. Blake Pilgrim-Edwards (Acadie-Bathurst) 2 assists
Scratches For Cape Breton: Cameron Henderson, Jude Campbell
Scratches For Acadie-Bathurst: Jake Uberti (suspension), Mason Chitaroni
Final Shots On Goal: 39-25 in favour of Cape Breton
Cape Breton Power Play: 2/3
Acadie-Bathurst Power Play: 1/2
