Crushers, Mariners in key clash

The Pictou County Weeks Crushers will host the Yarmouth Mariners Thursday in their most important hockey game so far this season.
The Mariners lead the Bent Division of the Maritime Hockey League with 59 points, while the Crushers are tied for third place with the Metro Marauders. Just six points separate the top five teams in the division.
The Crushers will also visit the Bridgewater Lumberjacks Friday and host the Campbellton Tigers Saturday night.
They managed two wins in three games in as many nights last week and capped the weekend with a crucial 4-2 victory Saturday in Amherst against the Ramblers.
The Crushers also split two games with the Marauders, edging them 5-4 Thursday in New Glasgow before being shut out 2-0 Friday in Dartmouth.
Jean-Sebastien Boucher reduced his goals-against average to 2.64 as he started all three games for the Crushers.
The Crushers squandered a 4-2 lead in the third period on two goals by J.P. Harvey.
But Cody Squires’ goal 40 seconds after the tying goal stood up as the winner.
Danny Wicks opened the scoring for the Crushers early in the first period, but the marauders tied the game in the first period and went ahead 2-1 in the second.
Two goals by Jordan MacInnis and one by Corey Bennett later in the period restored the Crushers’ lead.
The Marauders outshot the Crushers 48-34.
In Dartmouth Friday, the Marauders outshot the Crushers 50-29 with goals from Bradley MacDonald in the first period and the third period to post the win.
The Crushers were also outshot in every period in Amherst, including 20-78 in the third period and 44-26 in total.
But Boucher once again delivered the goaltending they needed, despite allowing the Ramblers’ two goals 37 seconds apart in the first period.
The Crushers took a 3-2 lead in the second period on goals by Nick Parker, Mitchell Deruelle and Squires.
Deruelle assisted on the other two goals.
Bennett tallied into an empty net with one second left in the third period.
Deruelle now has 16 goals and 33 assists for 49 points, while Parker has 25 goals and 47 points.
Bennett is third on the team with 18 goals and 17 assists for 35 points, while Garrett Holmes is fourth with 13 goals and 18 assists for 31 points.