Cape Breton Screaming Eagles

Cape Breton posted a 3-1 win over the Acadie-Bathurst Titan in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action Wednesday at the K.C. Irving Centre, as Nick MacNeil would score the eventual game-winning goal at 5:58 of the third.

The win improved the Eagles’ record to 6-1-1-1 on the road and posted their third-straight road victory, as opposed to a 4-5-0-1 record and four-game losing skid at home.

“Our first goal by the fourth line made a big difference in the game,” said head coach and general manager Mario Durocher. “We took the lead and didn’t lose it after that.”

The Eagles won the game without co-captain and defenceman Michael Ward. He suffered a shoulder injury late in Tuesday’s 3-2 win over the Rimouski Oceanic. Durocher said he still needs to be checked out by doctors back in Sydney, but is expected to be out at least four weeks.

“For sure, but it will give more ice to Morgan (Ellis),” said Durocher, of Ward’s loss. “We’re not in a bad situation, we still have four good defencemen, I think J.S. Fournier is doing well and Myles Micallef has a year and a half experience in the league, so it’s not like we’re running out of defencemen.”

Cape Breton held a 1-0 advantage into the final frame on a goal by Max Le Sieur in the opening frame. Dominion native Taylor Lambke brought the Titan within a goal after MacNeil’s marker, but Stephen Horyl added an insurance tally with 3:30 remaining in regulation to seal the deal.

Horyl’s 12th on the season moved him into a tie for second in the league in goals with Pierre-Alexandre Vandall of Shawinigan and Guillaume Goulet of Baie-Comeau.

In goal, Chris Holden improved his record to 4-3-0 after making 19 saves. Nicholas Champion deflected 32 shots in a losing cause and falls to 6-9-0.

Cape Breton (10-6-1-2) returns home Friday to face the Halifax Mooseheads at Centre 200. Game time is slated for 7 p.m.