Crushers regroup against Ramblers

NEW GLASGOW – The Pictou County Weeks Crushers will try to rebound from a big loss last Saturday when they host the Amherst Ramblers Thursday.
The Ramblers snapped the Crushers’ five-game winning streak in MHL action last Saturday in Amherst where the Ramblers prevailed 6 -3. The loss followed the Crushers’3-2 overtime victory last Thursday over the visiting Truro Bearcats and a 3-2 shootout win Friday over the host Metro Marauders.
The Crushers will also visit the Bridgewater Lumberjacks Friday.
“We have to get pucks deep on their defence,” Crushers head coach and general manager Jason Malone said in assessing Thursday’s game against the Ramblers. “It’s going to be a tough game. They’ve made some moves to improve the team.”
For the second straight home game, Daniel MacLeod scored the game-winning goal, this time into the second minute of overtime, to lift the Crushers past Truro.
“He’s playing solid hockey,” Malone said.
Mitchell Deruelle scored in the first period and Garrett Holmes tallied in the second period to give the Crushers a 2-0 lead. Deruelle and Holmes added two assists each.
Truro scored in the second and third periods to force extra time.
The Crushers outshot Truro 33-27 before 1,006 fans.
In Halifax Friday, Jason Smallman scored the only goal during the shootout to give the Crushers another two points. Tyler Doyle tied the game 1-1 in the second period and Holmes put the Crushers ahead 2-1 early in the third period.
Newly acquired Jean-Sebastien Boucher was in goal for the Crushers, who were outshot 43-29. Dylan Frank was in goal Thursday.
In Amherst, the Ramblers outshot the Crushers 24-9 in the second period and 52-26 in the game to top the Crushers. The Ramblers were playing their first game in a week and the Crushers were playing their third game in as many nights.
Deruelle scored in the first period to tie the game and assisted on Nick Parker’s goal in the second period when the Ramblers took a 4-2 lead. Cody Squires’ goal in the third period completed the scoring.