Jan 09 Montreal Juniors Defeat Lewiston MAINEiacs 4-2 as Esposito, Asselin and Ritter Return to Line-up

A near sell-out crowd was on hand as the pre-game ceremonies to the Juniors / Lewiston MAINEiacs match had the Montreal Juniors recognizing their returning members, Guillaume Asselin, Toni Ritter and Angelo Esposito. Asselin, the 1st scorer for the Quebec team in the U-17 World Challenge, Ritter, a member of Team Germany in the World Juniors and Esposito, scorer of the game winning goal in the gold medal game for team Canada, were all at centre ice to accept the accolades of the adoring fans.  The actual game, the second to last home game before a 7 game, 3 week road trip, also gave the fans something to cheer about.

While Montreal was enjoying time on the power play in the 1st when Lewiston's Alexander Beaton took a bad penalty in Montreal's zone giving the Juniors a 5 on 3 opportunity. Dmitri Kostromitin took advantage of this situation for the Juniors with a slap shot from the blue line that beat a screened Peter Delmas. Montreal was not able to convert on their other two powerplay opportunities of the period, nor did Lewiston during their only chance.

Montreal would double their lead at 8:39 of the 2nd when Guillaume Asselin raced into the Lewiston zone chasing down an errant puck and feathered a perfect pass into the crease where Matt Fillier was in perfect position to tip it past Delmas.

Although the pace was not action packed, Montreal was playing their game, being responsible defensively and not creating any turnovers, while at the same time, looking to create some offense from battles along the board as was the case in Montreal's 3rd goal of the game. Pier-Antoine Dion potted his 11th of the year as he one-timed a feed from Asselin, five-hole past Delmas. Asselin went one on one along the boards in the corner of the Lewiston zone, won the battle, kicked the puck up with his skate and found Dion in the slot. Lewiston had 2 more chances on the power-play but again came up empty and out shot the Juniors in the period despite leaving the ice down by 3.

Montreal would get into penalty trouble of their own in the 3rd period when Guillaume Asselin took a tripping penalty while Montreal was already a man down. On the ensuing 5 on 3, Lewiston captain Danick Paquette was at Jake Allen's right and deflected a pass from the point past Allen with his skate and the crowd was still in disbelief that the goal was good even though it passed a video review.

The second fight of the game erupted shortly thereafter when Pat O'Keefe dropped his gloves against a bigger Étienne Brodeur and O'keefe was thrown to ground often by Brodeur. The first fight, was in the 1st period between Danick Paquette and Chris Thorne, advantage Paquette. Proving the saying that there is never 2 without 3, Marc Bourgeois and Alex Wall faced off as things started heating up in the tail end of the 3rd. Call that one a draw as both fell to the ice simultaneously. But the tide had definitely turned in Lewiston's favor by this point as they pressed Montreal right up to the dying seconds.

No matter what league you are in, no lead is ever safe and Lewiston, who came on strong and never let up, made it a 1 goal game with less than  5 minutes to go in the game. Just moments after clanging a shot off the goalpost, the MAINEiacs, creating pressure down low, let a shot from the point get past Allen who was partially screened. The came off of none other than Danick Paquette's stick, giving him his 20th of the season. No video review required for that one.

With less than a minute remaining in the game, however, Lewiston pulled theor netminder for the extra attacker and despite many mad scrambles and near goals in front of Jake Allen's net, Montreal was able to hold off the MAINEiacs as Matt Fillier found Nick Layton who skated into the Lewiston zone to score his 17th of the season and the Juniors' 4th of the night.

Montreal will gladly take these two points, but will have a more important game against a divisional rival tomorrow when the Huskies from Rouyn Noranda visit in Montreal's last home game in January.

Pic by Amanda Stein

Tags: Angelo Esposito \ Guillaume Asselin \ Lewiston MAINEiacs \ LHJMQ \ Matt Fillier \ Montreal juniors \ QMJHL \ Toni Ritter