The Pembroke Lumber Kings were firing on all cylinders against the Cumberland Grads, and when the final buzzer sounded Lumber Kings emerged with a 6-1 win.
Pembroke's Gabe Mollot-Hill was a brick wall in net, as he came up with 41 saves and let only one puck past him. Mollot-Hill certainly lowered his goals against average, which was 2.3 entering the contest.
The Lumber Kings were sparked by Brandon Zullo, who finished with one goal. Zullo scored 10:14 into the first period to make the score 2-0 Pembroke. Adam Beveridge picked up the assist.
Pembroke forced Cumberland's goalies to work hard to keep the puck out of the net, totaling 34 shots and forcing 28 saves. Ryan Coughlin made 21 stops and Thierry Messervier made seven. The Lumber Kings found the back of the net more times than it usually has this season. Pembroke averages 3.2 goals per game.
Pembroke also got points from Chris Minns, who also registered one goal and one assist, Nicolas Vlahos, who also racked up one goal and one assist, and Beveridge, who also had one goal and one assist. Alex Gilmour also scored for Pembroke. More assists for Pembroke came via Colton Keuhl, Fraser Turner, Justin Felhaber, and Brett Horn, who contributed one each and Derek Varrin and Ben VanOoteghem, who each chipped in two.
The Grads did not reach the goal total they have come to expect this season. Cumberland averages 4.1 goals per game. The Grads forced the Lumber Kings goalie Mollot-Hill to work between the pipes, taking 42 shots.
Cumberland also got a goal from Shawn Cameron as well. In addition, Cumberland received assists from Zackhary Salloum and Martin Frechette, who contributed one each.
Pembroke incurred eight minutes in penalty time with four minors and had no power play opportunities. Cumberland ended with no penalties and went 1-for-4 on the power play.
