It’s a good thing the Fredericton Red Wings don’t play until Friday night.
Considering the marathon shootout win in Summerside on Saturday against the Western Capitals, an extra day of rest can come in handy.
Fredericton topped the league-leading Capitals, 5-4, in a length shootout that started with Alex Pellerin and Summerside’s Marc-Andre LeCouffe denied and only ended 28 shooters later when Jack Grant stopped Ed McNeill for the precious two points.
It was Tyler Browning of the Red Wings scoring the eventual game-winning goal in the marathon that couldn’t decide a winner through five minutes of sudden-death overtime.
Brady Patterson had actually given Fredericton a glimmer of hope when he scored in the 12th round, beating Dominik Tmej, but Zach Thususka put one past Grant to continue the shootout before Browning tucked home the decisive goal in front of 898 fans at the Credit Union Place.
The Red Wings, after a four-game road trip that has kept them away from the Grant*Harvey Centre since Nov. 14, return to the home freeze for a double dip this weekend.
Miramichi Timberwolves come to town Friday night and Summerside makes a visit for a rematch on Saturday.
Both games are set for 7 p.m.
In that key win over the Capitals, four players scored in regulation time for Fredericton.
Liam Smith, Ryan O’Toole, Aiden MacIntosh and Ethan Stuckless all scored for the Red Wings. MacIntosh added an assist, just hours after joining Fredericton from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League’s Saint John Sea Dogs.
Red Wing captain Evan White collected two assists. The veteran defenceman now has 24 helpers this season to lead Fredericton in scoring, despite looking for his first goal.
Fredericton had carried a 4-3 lead into the third period, but Bennett MacArthur scored his 17th of the season with 75 seconds left in regulation to send it into overtime.
Grant made 33 saves for the win in goal.