Winning Week for Trois-Rivieres Lions | Lions Notepad

The Trois-Rivieres Lions returned to Colisee Videotron to host the Newfoundland Growlers (Toronto Maple Leafs) for two games before heading on the road to face the Maine Mariners (Boston Bruins).

The club received excellent news on Thursday as Matthew Boucher returned to the Lions after being released from his PTO by the Belleville Senators in the AHL. At the time of his departure from Trois-Rivieres, he led the team with 12 points in eight games. 

The Lions had a 3-1 lead courtesy of two goals by Jakov Novak and a goal by Alex-Olivier Voyer with five minutes remaining in the second period when the home team took over. During a five-minute power play, Novak completed his hat trick and Voyer netted his second of the contest to make it 5-1 through 40 minutes. Newfoundland clawed back with two goals in the third period before Brycen Martin added an empty netter.

“Leadership took control tonight. We knew we were playing good hockey, but it wasn't working. Tonight, the power play was very good and [Joe Vrbetic] was very good. We think it was one of the good games we have played this season, mainly in the first two periods,” coach and general manager Ron Choules said.

The victory snapped the Lions seven game losing streak.

(Quotes courtesy of L'Hebdo Journal)

After a scoreless first period, Matthew Boucher and Cedric Montminy put the home team on the board with goals 3:12 apart. Newfoundland answered back with a pair of goals in 2:13 to force overtime. In the extra period, the Growlers won the contest with their second power play goal of the night.

After allowing the first goal to the Mariners, Boucher and Novak responded with two goals in 1:05 for the lead through 20 minutes. Maine tied the contest midway through the second period and the score remained unchanged through regulation time. Miguel Tourigny won the game in overtime 16 seconds after stepping out of the penalty box. 

During Wednesday's contest, Noah Laaouan left the game at the end of the second period after being hit by Todd Skirving near the boards in the defensive zone. Skirving received a match penalty for illegal hit to the head by the officals on the play and the ECHL's Department of Player Safety suspended the forward for two matches and fined him an undisclosed amount. 

The Growlers forward took ownership of his actions and issued a public apology to Laaouan on social media. "When the opposition player lost momentum forward, I did my best to ensure my elbow stayed down, but my shoulder clipped his head. My stomach sank right after the hit."

The good news for Laaouan is that there was no serious impact to the hit and he was able to return to the lineup for the two games on the weekend. 

Canadiens prospect Ty Smilanic returned to the lineup on Saturday after missing six games with an undisclosed injury. 

Forwards William Lemay and Nick Jermain were suspended from the team and removed from the roster. Lemay joined the team last season and obtained eight points in 14 contests. This year, he collected two points in 14 matches.

Jermain was in his first season with Trois-Rivieres after spending the last two seasons with the Maine Mariners. With the Lions, he obtained six points in 20 games. He will be pursuing his career in Europe. 

Trois-Rivieres hosts the Adirondack Thunder (New Jersey Devils) on Wednesday before heading on the road for three games in three days against the Worcester Railers (New York Islanders) on Friday and Saturday, followed by the Adirondack Thunder on Sunday.

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