The Lewiston Maineiacs grabbed their first series lead of the 2011 President’s Cup Playoffs with a 4-2 road win over the Moncton Wildcats on Tuesday night before 3,806 at the Moncton Coliseum.

Alex Zafiris scored the eventual game winner with Lewiston on the power play late in the second period. The goal came just 30 seconds after Daniel Pettersson, who scored both Moncton goals, tied the score at two with a shorthanded goal.

There were 17 infractions resulting in 14 power plays in what has been a series rich in penalties and extracurricular activities. Special teams proved to be the difference for Lewiston, as they were 2-for-8 on the power play and a perfect 6-for-6 on the penalty kill.

Cameron Critchlow and Michael Chaput both recorded a goal and an assist in the game three triumph for the Maineiacs.

Fittingly, a very even first period ended with the score knotted at one apiece. Each side had 15 shots in a period that saw 10 penalties called, six of which were against Moncton.

The Wildcats opened the scoring with a goal from Daniel Pettersson at 6:47. But the Maineiacs would respond on the power play six minutes later when Sam Carrier beat Brandon Thibeau. Michael Chaput and Etienne Brodeur recorded assists on the goal.

While Moncton recorded 15 shots in the opening frame, the stingy Lewiston defense would allow only 11 shots to make their way to Nicolas Champion in the frame of the goal in the final two periods combined.

Just 2:30 into the second period, the Maineiacs would grab their first lead of the game when captain Cameron Critchlow was the beneficiary of a feed from Carrier, 2-1.

A double minor for high-sticking was assessed at 14:42 of the second to Moncton’s Brandon Gormley. The infraction would lead to pair of goals, the first of which was a shorthanded goal from Pettersson to tie the game at 2-2.

Thirty seconds after Pettersson’s second of the night, the Maineiacs would regain the lead with their second power play goal of the game. This time it was Alex Zafiris who put them back up top thanks to helpers from Critchlow and Sam Henley.

All was quiet on the score sheet throughout most of the third, until Chaput put away a dagger, his second of the playoffs, with under three minutes remaining in regulation to put Lewiston on top 4-2.

For the third consecutive game, Champion and Thibeau returned between the pipes for Lewiston and Moncton respectively.

Champion gained a 2-1 series edge over Thibeau by allowing just a pair of goals and making 24 saves. Thibeau made good on 34 of the 38 shots he faced. falling to 1-2 in the 2011 playoffs.

Moncton’s Cole MacMillan was given a game misconduct for a third period boarding infraction.