QMJHL Charlottetown Islanders

Casey Plays the Hero, Nets Four Points as Isles Defeat Moose in Return to Play

March 9, 2021 - Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
Charlottetown Islanders News Release


They may have been on pause for ten days, but the Charlottetown Islanders were still able to harness the momentum they had been building up.

Thomas Casey had another big night with four points, including the game-winner, while Cedric Desruisseaux picked up two goals as the Islanders picked up their seventh consecutive victory with a 5-2 victory over the Halifax Mooseheads.

"We played a very smart, conservative road game tonight," said Islanders head coach Jim Hulton on the victory. "Our structure and play away from the puck was very good. We showed good poise in the third period after surrendering the lead in the second."

The scoring started early for the Islanders thanks to William Trudeau. The defenseman continues to build his name ahead of the 2021 NHL Draft with his seventh goal of the season, receiving the pass from Thomas Casey in the high slot and going top shelf on Mooseheads netminder Alexis Gravel for his seventh goal of the season.

Desruisseaux would get himself on the board midway through the period thanks to Brett Budgell. The captain would show off his feet with some slick moves to shake free of a Mooseheads defender and slide a no-look backhand pass to a waiting Desruisseaux at the side of the net. He'd go upstairs in tight for his first goal of the night.

The Mooseheads would claw back in the second period and set up a critical final period.. Senna Peeters would score his first of the season on the powerplay before Elliot Desnoyers would tie the game up nearing the end of the period, snapping a quick wrister that handcuffed Goobie. The goal would give Desnoyers, the Philadelphia Flyers prospect, his 15th goal on the year.

Fortunately for Charlottetown, Casey's big night wasn't finished. The PEI-born over-ager would get a pass from Drew Elliott low in the Mooseheads zone and he'd beat Gravel with a change-up shot over the Halifax netminder's shoulder for his 24th of the season.

The Mooseheads would push hard and almost get the game tied up, but Goobie would stand tall with timely show-stopping saves when the team needed it most, including a massive breakaway save against Zachary L'Heureux.

"For me, Goobie's save on the L'Heureux breakaway in the third was the turning point in the game." added Hulton on the save.

Desruisseaux would put the game on ice with a shorthanded goal late, while Elliott would add an empty-netter to finish the night on the right foot for Charlottetown.

Brett Budgell would finish with two assists while Elliott added a goal and an assist himself. Sam Oliver and Lukas Cormier each added single assists on Elliott's empty-netter.

Islanders defenseman Noah Laaouan left the game early in the second period with an undisclosed injury and did not return.

Charlottetown ventures back across the bridge for their next game, a road game against the Cape Breton Eagles on Saturday, March 13th. That game can be seen at any of our viewing partners across Charlottetown as well as on Eastlink Channel 10/610. Cory Arsenault and George Matthews will have the call as always on Ocean 100's Saturday Night Hockey!

Check out the Charlottetown Islanders Statistics



Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Stories from March 9, 2021


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