Martin Frk comes through for Mooseheads after Huskies squander chance

If Andre Tourigny was upset his words might not have betrayed him, but his demeanor certainly did. After all, he had just watched his Rouyn-Noranda Huskies squander a two goal lead against the top-ranked Halifax Mooseheads in the third period to force overtime.

“We took penalties to give them a chance to get back,” said the coach and GM after their 5-4 OT loss in Game 2 of their best-of-seven QMJHL semifinal. “They scored their first goal of the rally on a power play. It’s too bad we have to talk about that at this time of the season. I guess it’s a learning process.”

Then, just five minutes into the extra frame, overage defenceman Mathieu Brisebois lost his cool and punched Mooseheads star Jonathan Drouin in the face to earn a roughing penalty. It was not only unnecessary, but given the critical juncture of the game, not very smart. Rouyn quickly started to unravel despite Tourigny’s best efforts to calm his club.

“I tried to stay composed,” said Tourigny. “It was a bad penalty obviously; it was outside of the play. At this point you’re in overtime and there’s nothing you can do. You have to live with it.”

It only got worse. Another Huskies defenceman – this time rookie Allan Caron – found himself in the penalty box 13 seconds later for a hit from behind on Halifax centre Nathan MacKinnon.

“I think (MacKinnon) saw Caron coming and I think he played his game in the right way (to draw the penalty),” said Tourigny, who coached both MacKinnon and Drouin as an assistant with Canada’s world junior team. “The ref bought it.”

As soon as the second penalty was called, the Mooseheads knew they had Rouyn on the ropes.

“Five-on-three in overtime that was the big chance to win the game,” said Halifax forward Martin Frk. “You have to score.”

Frk did exactly that, waiting at the side of the Huskies net for a pass from Drouin who had picked up a MacKinnon rebound. He made no mistake in firing the puck past goalie Alex Belanger. It was his second goal of the game and 20^th point in 10 playoff games.

“They are the two best players in the league,” said Frk of MacKinnon and Drouin. “You know you are going to pick up points with them. They make amazing plays. Sometimes I don’t even know what to say because they are so good. I’m just happy to play with them.”

Frk, who is a skilled player in his own right, said there’s a lot of extra pressure every time he’s out on the ice with the two young Mooseheads stars.

“Basically I just wait for the puck and make sure I don’t miss it,” said the second round pick of the Detroit Red Wings with a laugh. “I’m happy I put it in.”

It was the first time in their 2012-13 playoff campaign that Halifax found themselves down two goals in a game and the first time since Feb 6, that a team has taken them to overtime at home. Those stats were Tourigny’s lone consolation while staying positive about being down 2-0 in the series.

“How many teams take the Mooseheads to overtime at home? When was the last time?” asked Tourigny. “We made a comeback from two goals twice (in Saturday’s 6-4 loss) and tonight we were right there; almost there. We had our chance and it was a one shot game and the Mooseheads got it. But we’re really confident in ourselves right now.”

Confident or not, the Huskies are in tough. The Mooseheads have yet to lose a game in the post-season and while Rouyn has come closest to handing them defeat, their record remains perfect. Game 3 is Tuesday at the Arena Imgold and the Huskies will at least have an advantage in their smaller rink.

“I’m not the best skater and you don’t have too much time,” said Frk, a native of the Czech Republic and accustomed to big ice. You have to try to move the puck right away and try to beat your guy because everything is so tight.

“But we just have to stay with our plan.”