Cornwall Ontario – Nicolas Corbeil and Alex Bourret scored shorthanded goals 28 seconds apart in the second period to spark the River Kings to a 6-1 win over the Thetford-Mines Isothermic on Saturday night.
It was a much-needed four-point weekend for the River Kings, who improved to 5-5-2 on the season. The 1,283 fans on hand at the Ed Lumley Arena certainly got their money’s worth.
Before the opening puck drop, River Kings leading scorer Nicolas Corbeil went toe-to-toe with Gabriel Lemieux of the Isothermic. It was the first of seven tilts on the evening.
Doug Andress opened the scoring for the River Kings on a power play at 7:05 of the first. His blast from the point on a one-time pass by Dave Reid gave Cornwall a 1-0 lead.
Then, Dominic Chiasson set up Ryan Jardine with a beautiful pass at 13:46 to give the River Kings a 2-0 lead.
Five minutes into the contest, the River Kings killed off a lengthy 5-on-3 power play by the Isothermic with Loic Lacasse standing tall in goal for Cornwall.
The line of Jardine, Chiasson and Pat Kavanagh continued to click in the second period, as Jardine finished off a great three-way passing play for his second of the contest at 8:07 of the middle frame.
Then, it was the Corbeil and Bourret show; as the River Kings snipers scored highlight reel goals, both shorthanded markers on the same penalty.
With Chris Cloutier in the box, Corbeil took off on a semi-breakaway, protecting the puck and beating Jean-Philippe Levasseur through the five-hole at 14:36 of the second. Then, Bourret took off on a breakaway and blasted a slap shot past Levasseur 28 seconds later.
In the third, Jonathan Jasper made a long breakaway pass to Bourret, who went in all alone, faked another slap shot but this time deked Levasseur for his second of the game at 8:52.
Pierre-Luc Sleigher spoiled Lacasse’s bid for a shutout at 11:12 of the third.
Chiasson, Kavanagh and Pierre-Luc Faubert each chipped in two assists for the River Kings, who were outshot 39-33 by the Isothermic.
The announced stars were Lacasse (first), Jardine (second) and Bourret (third).
COMEBACK WIN ON FRIDAY
On Friday night, the River Kings paid a regular-season visit to the Valleyfield for the first time, defeating the Braves 5-4 in a shootout.
Corbeil scored the only goal in the shootout, while Lacasse stopped all three shooters he faced. Lacasse also made 39 saves in regulation and overtime.
Before the game was 10 minutes old, the River Kings found themselves behind 2-0. But Cornwall rallied with four straight goals – two by defenceman Sasha Pokulok. Faubert and Corbeil also scored for the River Kings, who led 4-3 after 40 minutes. Julien Corriveau second goal of the contest at 7:16 of the third sent the game to overtime.
