The Tigers growled.
Loudly.
Campbellton Tigers came to town Saturday afternoon and skated to a convincing 8-1 Maritime Hockey League victory over the Fredericton Red Wings.
Both teams were coming off wins less than 24 hours prior to faceoff, but the Tigers had all the jump, winning this one easily and closing to within three points of Fredericton for third spot in the EastLink North Division.
Captain Pascal Valcourt led the Tigers’ offence with three goals and two assists. William Basque added a pair. Solos went to Riley Bezeau, Connor Richard and Josh Crooks. Max Charest had three assists and Joel Walker added a pair of helpers.
Tristan Gray kicked out 28 shots for the win in goal in front of 1,255 fans at the Grant*Harvey Centre.
Campbellton came into the game on the heels of a dramatic 6-5 Friday night shootout win over the Edmundston Blizzard in a game that saw the Tiger trail 5-0 at one point.
Jack Grant suffered the loss in goal, replaced by Eric MacInnis late in the second period when the Red Wings fell behind 5-1.
Declan MacEachern scored the only Fredericton goal.
Campbellton owned the second period offensively, opening a 5-0 lead at one juncture before finishing with a 6-1 lead, chasing Grant in favour of MacInnis after Richard scored his ninth of the season.
His goal came just minutes after the speedy Valcourt punched home a shorthanded goal, his second of the matinee.
MacEachern would tip home his fifth of the year to cut the deficit to 5-1 before Basque sunk his 13th to restore the five-goal lead.
The Red Wings were on their heels early, really early, in fact, falling behind 1-0 just 79 seconds into the game.
It was tough for Fredericton to find its way after that as the Tigers were relentless in puck pursuit, causing wave after wave of odd-man rushes that resulted in a flurry of goals.
Bezeau’s early goal was augmented by Basque’s first tally of the afternoon late in the first period for a 2-0 Campbellton lead.
The Red Wings return to action Thursday, hosting Miramichi Timberwolves at 7 p.m.