2019 Esso Cup

HALIFAX OFFENCE IGNITES IN WIN OVER QUEBEC

QUINTON AMUNDSON

SUDBURY, Ont. – Madison Gray completed her hat trick by scoring the game-winning goal with 88 seconds remaining to lift the Halifax Fire to a 6-4 win over the As de Québec on Tuesday at the 2019 Esso Cup.

Gray gave the Fire its first lead by deflecting a point shot by Allie Barter past netminder Justine Sylvain.

Ellen Laurence also starred with two goals and an assist. Jillian Duggan scored the other marker for Halifax, and Amelia Awad denied 39 shots for the win.

Jade Picard, Ann-Sophie Bédard, Elaine Michaud and Alexandra Giguère scored for Quebec.

The momentum that the As generated by beating the Saskatoon Stars on Monday carried over as they recorded the first two goals of the game; Picard and Bédard both beat Awad with wrist shots from the right face-off circle.

Duggan responded 10 seconds after the Bédard marker by converting a juicy rebound.

After being knocked down in a scramble in front of her net early in the second period, Sylvain was replaced by Sophie Sabourin for several minutes while she received attention on the bench.

Gray tied the game for Halifax at 6:44, getting behind Sabourin and pounding the biscuit into the cage.

Michaud restored the lead for Québec midway through the second period with a shot that snuck through Awad, but Gray leveled the score again 71 seconds later by chipping the puck into the net from the doorstep after a backhand pass from Allie Norris, bringing Sylvain back into the As goal.

Giguère tucked a shot past the right leg of Awad while falling to send Québec to the dressing room with a 4-3 lead.

Laurence set the table for Gray’s dramatic game-winner by sniping to tie the game midway through the third period. She then confirmed the victory with an empty-net goal with five seconds remaining.

Both clubs will look to improve to .500 on Wednesday – Halifax battles the St. Albert Slash (12 p.m. ET) and Québec duels the Stoney Creek Sabres (3:30 p.m. ET).