Western Capitals comeback in home opener to beat Crushers 4-3

SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. - The Summerside Western Capitals rallied back from a 3-1 second period deficit to beat the Pictou County Weeks Crushers 4-3 in a shootout Saturday night in the their home opener. 

Declan MacLauchlan scored the lone goal of the shootout to give the Western Capitals its third straight win of the season and improve to 3-2-0-0. The Crushers fall to 1-2-0-1 on the young season.

Matthew MacLean, Justin Ouellette and Lane Sim tallied goals in regulation time for the Capitals. Tanner Hayden scored twice for the Crushers as Ryan Walsh also tallied a goal for the visitors.

The Crushers opened the scoring at the 13:55 mark of the first period with Hayden’s first of the game and first of the season on a seeing eye wrist shot. Brennan O’Donnell and Rory Pilling drew assists. 

Summerside tied the game at 18:52 with MacLean’s second goal of the season. Maverick Hayes and Owen MacPherson drew assists. 

In the second period, Hayden added his second goal of the game at 11:23 on a (Caps goaltender) Max Picard and Hayes misplay in front of the Caps net. 

The Crushers took a 3-1 lead at 14:04 with Ryan Walsh scoring his third goal of the season. Quinn Price and Owen Bell drew assists. 

Summerside made it a 3-2 game at 17:22 with Ouellette’s fourth goal of the season. MacLauchlan drew the lone assist. 

In the third period, Sim tied the game at 10:53 with his third of the season after a little bit of chaos in front of the Crushers net. Ouellette and Lincoln Waugh drew assists. 

Regulation proved nothing and went into overtime. 

Picard made a big save on a penalty shot from Hayden with under a minute left in the extra frame to force the game to a shootout.

In the shootout, Crushers players Brody Ford, Hayden and Pilling were all stopped by Picard. Ouellette and Waugh couldn’t score before MacLauchlan shot last to seal the deal for the Western Capitals.

Picard made 24 saves in the win for Summerside. Jake Poirier made 43 saves in the loss for the Crushers but still earned third star honours.

Full game recap here.

The Western Capitals next game is Friday Oct. 2 in Campbellton against the Tigers for a 7 p.m. AST start.

Western Capitals take down Crushers 5-2

PICTOU COUNTY, N.S. - Declan MacLauchlan scored twice to help lead the Summerside Western Capitals to a 5-2 win over the Pictou County Weeks Crushers Thursday night at the Pictou County Wellness Centre. 

The Capitals win their second straight game and improve to 2-2-0-0 on the season, while the Crushers fall to 1-2-0-0. 

In additional to MacLauchlan’s two goals, Justin Ouellette (1-1), Owen MacPherson and Eli Swain tallied goals for the visiting Capitals. Brennan O’Donnell and Ryan Walsh scored for the Crushers. 

Summerside opened the scoring at 7:11 with Swain, who was called up for the game, scoring his first career MHL goal. Matthew MacLean drew the lone assist.  

Just 26 seconds later, the Crushers tied the game with O’Donnell’s second goal of the season. Rory Pilling drew the lone assist. 

MacLauchlan restored the lead for the Capitals at 17:40 with a power play goal for his second of the season. Aiden Diamond and Lane Sim drew assists. 

In the second period, MacPherson gave the Capitals a 3-1 lead with his third goal of the season at 1:06. Isaac Taweel drew the lone assist. 

Exactly 30 second later, MacLauchlan added his second of the contest to give the Western Capitals a 4-1 lead. Ouellette drew the lone assist. 

The Crushers cut the lead in half at 9:46 with Walsh scoring on the power play for his second goal of the season.  Braylan Fitzgerald and Owen Bell drew assists. 

Summerside took a 5-2 lead at 11:14 with Ouellette’s third goal of the season. Luke Inman and Sim drew assists. 

There was no scoring in the third period. 

Vincent Gladu made 19 saves to pick up his first win as a Western Capital. Former Capitals goaltender George Gallant made 26 saves in the loss for the Crushers. 

Full game recap can be found here. 

Both teams will battle again Saturday Sept. 26 in the Western Capitals' home opener at 7 p.m. AST.