The Miramichi Timberwolves are one win away from their first Maritime Junior Hockey League (MHL) championship after a 4-3 win over Summerside on home ice in Game 4 of the Metalfab MHL Cup Final on Sunday.
The Timberwolves entered Game 4 with a 2-1 series lead after a 4-3 win in Summerside on Wednesday. Trailing 3-2 entering the final period of Game 3, Miramichi found goals from Eliott Robert and Tim Porter to pull out the victory in which they outshot the Western Capitals 49-31.
Back at the Miramichi Civic Centre on Sunday evening, the home side took an early 1-0 lead with a goal from David Doucet at 7:33 of the 1st period. There was no scoring in the 2nd period, but Miramichi got goals from Justin David and Zachary Aprea-Ricard within the first 2:35 of the 3rd period to build a 3-0 lead and prompted a change in net as former Timberwolves goaltender Niko Boudreau came in to replace Drew Sim for Summerside. The explosive Western Capitals’ offence came to life in the middle part of the 3rd period with two goals from Robbie Rutledge and one from Simon Mullen just 1:28 apart to tie the game at 3.
But at 16:54, Justin David threw a shot on net that got by Boudreau to give Miramichi the lead back and they held on for the 4-3 victory and 3-1 series lead. Summerside outshot Miramichi 45-26 in Game 4.
All eyes shift to Credit Union Place in Summerside for Game 5 on Tuesday, where the Metalfab MHL Cup will be in the building and the Timberwolves can punch their ticket to the Centennial Cup in Oakville, Ontario.