2019 Esso Cup

LADY WOLVES CLOSE PRELIMS WITH WIN OVER AS

QUINTON AMUNDSON

SUDBURY, Ont. – Madison Laberge scored twice and added two assists, and Alexe Clavelle had two goals and a helper to lead the Sudbury Lady Wolves to a 5-2 win over the As de Québec on Thursday night to close out the preliminary round at the 2019 Esso Cup.

The Lady Wolves clinched second place with the win. They will face the Stoney Creek Sabres in the semifinals on Friday night (7 p.m. ET).

Cailen Hanzlik shone between the pipes for Sudbury, turning aside a number of quality shots among the 29 that she faced.

On the As side of the equation, Alexandra Giguère and Éloïse Lavoie scored the goals, and Justine Sylvain stopped 26 of 31 shots.

Even though Québec had already been eliminated from playoff contention earlier Thursday, the As were ready to provide the Lady Wolves with a stiff test.

Both clubs went back and forth creating transition chances in the early stages of the game. After being sprung up the middle of the ice by Laberge, Clavelle beat Sylvain off the rush just shy of 10 minutes into the period.

Period two was the wildest of the three acts as both clubs scored twice in the frame. Giguère tied the game with a power-play goal at 2:21, Chomiak struck at 6:24 to restore Sudbury’s lead, Clavelle scored the eventual game-winning goal at 13:59 and Lavoie cut the deficit to 3-2 with 85 seconds remaining in the period.

Laberge’s goals at 14:42 and 16:55 of the third period put a grinding halt to any chance that Québec had at a comeback. Sylvain gave way after the fifth goal to Sophie Sabourin, who stopped the only shot she faced.