PICTOU COUNTY – The Truro Bearcats showed a completely different side to their game on Thursday night, in turn taking a game back in the best-of-seven Eastlink Division semifinal series with the Weeks Crushers, winning 6-3.
Kyle Morrison led the Bearcats in scoring with two goals and an assist, with Grant West, Tyler Morrison, Dylan McGuigan and Travis Moore scoring the remainder of the Bearcats goals.
Nick Parker led the Weeks Crushers scoring two goals, while Jordan McInnis scored the final goal for Pictou County.
Jacob Fancy started his first game of the series in place of Shayne Campbell for the Bearcats, picking up the win with 24 saves. Brandon Thibeau took the loss in goal making 30 saves before being pulled.
In the first period the Weeks Crushers helped determine their fate, taking a penalty midway through their own power play. On the ensuing power play the Bearcats and league-leading scorer, Kyle Morrison, scored to give Truro their first lead of the series.
Just 7:44 into the period Mitchell Deruelle got a game misconduct and a major penalty for checking from behind, putting the Crushers down a man for the remainder of the game. The Bearcats scored just as the power play for the major penalty expired to take a 2-0 lead.
On the celebration as Truro went by the bench celebrating, Tyler Doyle hit one of the Bearcats players and was also given a game misconduct to put the Crushers down to 10 forwards for the final 47:36 of the game.
“We addressed it (being down two forwards) in between periods and after the game, but at the end of the day we’re up two games to one going home and we feel good about that,” said Weeks Crushers head coach Jason Malone. “It’s unfortunate what happened here tonight, but like I said we parked it when we left the dressing room and we’re looking forward to Saturday.”
The Bearcats scored one more in the period from Tyler Morrison to go up 3-0 through one period.
In the second Travis Moore added to the Bearcat lead at the 2:04 mark. The Crushers Jordan Moore drew a few penalties late in the frame, which eventually led to their first goal of the game. Nick Parker was open to the right of Fancy and tapped the puck home for his fifth goal of the playoffs. The Crushers trailed 4-1 through two periods.
The third saw Truro pad their lead with goals from Dylan McGuigan’s and Kyle Morrison before the Crushers added a few in the last three minutes of regulation from Parker and McInnis to start a comeback. Their push was too late as they fell 6-3.
After the game Malone said he was still confident in Thibeau who allowed five goals on 35 shots before being replaced by Dylan Frank.
“I think Brandon had a good game in Game 2 and I think he had another good game here tonight,” said Malone. “It’s too bad, but it’s one of those things. It’s over with and he’s moved on from it. He’s a pretty easy going guy and like I said he’s motivated for Saturday.”
Game 4 is Saturday night at the Pictou County Wellness Centre at 7 p.m. with the Crushers up 2-1 in the series.
Scoring
Weeks Crushers 3
2nd Nick Parker from Andrew Graham and Corey Bennett 17:25 PP
2nd Nick Parker from Garrett Holmes
3rd Jordan McInnis from Mitchell Shewfelt and Andrew Darrigo 19:23
Truro Bearcats 6
1st Kyle Morrison from Jordan Coccimigilio and Adam Guy 3:03 PP
1st Grant West from Patrick Downe and Cal Gloade 12:24
1st Tyler Morrison from Colby Lanceleve 19:20
2nd Travis Moore from Kyle Morrison and Cal Cloade 17:25 PP
3rd Dylan McGuigan from Philip Fife and Travis Fernley 4:57
1st Kyle Morrison from Jordan Coccimigilio and Adam Guy 16:05 PP
Power play
Crushers: 1-8
Bearcats: 2-7
Shots
Crushers: 27
Bearcats: 44
W: Jacob Fancy 24 saves
L: Brandon Thibeau 30 saves
Dylan Frank 9 saves
christopher.cameron@ngnews.ca
On Twitter: @NGNewsChris
