SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. — The Summerside D. Alex MacDonald Ford Western Capitals answered right back.
After dropping the opening game of the best-of-seven Eastlink North Division final 2-0 on home ice Saturday, the Capitals registered a 4-1 road victory over the Campbellton Tigers on Tuesday night to even the best-of-seven series 1-1.
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Game 3 is Thursday at Eastlink Arena in Summerside at 7 p.m., and Game 4 is back in Campbellton, N.B., on Saturday, also at 7 p.m. The Caps’ win Tuesday also guarantees there will be a Game 5 in Summerside on Monday at 8 p.m.
Before 2,048 fans at the Campbellton Memorial Civic, the Caps spotted the Tigers an early 1-0 lead, before countering for four unanswered goals.
Sam Dow, assisted by North Bedeque native Coleton Perry and Kyle Petten, opened the scoring 1:33 into the contest.
Caps forward and captain TJ Shea’s short-handed goal with 20 seconds remaining got the Caps on the board for the first time this series, and snapped the shutout string of Tigers goaltender Tristan Gray at just under 80 minutes.
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Jacob Hickey’s unassisted goal 51 seconds into the second period gave the Caps their first lead of the series – an advantage they would not relinquish. It was the first goal of the post-season for Hickey, who was acquired in a trade with the Pictou County Crushers at the Jan. 10 roster deadline.
The second period ended 2-1, but Sullivan Sparkes scored 51 seconds into the third period to make it a 3-1 game. Cameron Roberts then sealed the win with a power-play goal at 6:49 of the third period.
Shea, Dylan Riley, Kallum Muirhead and Brodie MacArthur contributed assists for the Caps.
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Overall, each registered 30 shots on goal. Dominik Tmej earned the goaltending win.
The Capitals were assessed five of the game’s eight minor penalties.
The Caps went 1-for-3 on the power play while the Tigers failed to score on five man advantages.
The game’s three stars were:
1. TJ Shea (Caps), 2. Cameron Roberts (Caps), 3. Sam Dow (Tigers).
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