QMJHL Cape Breton Eagles

Eagles Clipped by Wildcats by 6-4 Score

Published on October 29, 2021 under Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
Cape Breton Eagles News Release


MONCTON - The Cape Breton Eagles started strong, fell behind, then rallied but came up short in a 6-4 loss to the Moncton Wildcats on Friday in New Brunswick.

The Eagles carried the play in the opening minutes and were rewarded with a bounce- a shot from the blueline by Jacob Squires bounced off multiple Wildcat players and over netminder Vincent Fillion. Before the nine minute mark, the lead doubled- Dawson Stairs ripped a shot off the bar and in for a power play marker. (It was not called a goal on the ice but the call was correctly after a video review.

Penalties would factor into the scoring again before period's end. With the teams playing four on four, rookie Moncton defenseman Etienne Morin found himself in the slot to put his first career goal past Rémi Delafontaine. The Eagles held a 2-1 edge at the first break.

That score remained at the halfway mark of regulation, before Yoan Loshing took a pass from Vincent Labelle in the neutral zone. Sean Larochelle was able to make up ground to negate a breakaway, but coming in on a one on one situation he was able to beat the Eagles netminder to tie the game.

Things went from bad to worse for Delafontaine just over two minutes later when he sprawled out to make a save, but Jacob Stewart was able to jam the puck under his pad. While Delafontaine was able to get back to his own feet, he left the game with an injury. Nicolas Ruccia was pressed into action in the Eagles net and he was welcomed into the game with a shot into the top corner from Morin just two minutes later.

Moncton took the two goal advantage into the final frame but the Eagles didn't take long closing the gap- FJ Buteau put a shot through a Conor Shortall screen to make it 4-3. (Shortall played the bulk of the third period at forward instead of his usual defense position.)

Shortall was in his own end a few minutes later when he was dinged with a delay of game minor for putting the puck over the glass. The power play had just come to an end with Moncton still in possession, and rookie import Jonas Taibel picked up his own rebound to put through Ruccia to restore the two goal cushion and score his first career goal.

While the power plays went the way of Moncton most of the night, the Eagles were given a four minute man advantage with under eight minutes to play in the period. The visitors were not able to find the back of the net with the extra man, but not long after Ivan Ivan blasted a shot over Fillion to close the gap again.

The comeback attempt took a big blow when Romain Rodzinski was sent off for high sticking in the final three minutes. The Eagles were able to get Ruccia to the bench in the dying seconds, but after the power play come to end, Thomas Auger hit the empty net to seal the win for the Wildcats.

Fillion stopped 28 of 31 in the victory for Moncton. Ruccia took the loss, allowing two goals on eight shots before the empty netter. Prior to leaving the game, Delafontaine stopped 13 of 16 shots.

The Eagles will head home for a special Halloween matinee against the Gatineau Olympiques who are making their only visit to Centre 200. Puck drop is 3 PM on Sunday. Tickets can be purchased at https://www.ticketmaster.ca/cape-breton-eagles-tickets/artist/891825. They are also available for purchase in person at the Centre 200 box office and by the phone during box office hours at 902-564-2200

THREE STARS OF THE GAME

1. Etienne Morin (Moncton) 2 goals, 3 shots

2. Jacob Stewart (Moncton) 1 goal, 3 shots

3. Ivan Ivan (Cape Breton) 1 goal, 1 assist

Scratches For Cape Breton: Nicholas Girouard (lower body injury), Mikhail Nizovkin, Nicolas Hogue

Scratches For Moncton: Nicholas Blagden (upper body injury), Nathan Casey (lower body injury), Charles-Antoie Pilote,

Final Shots On Goal: 31-25 in favour of Cape Breton

Cape Breton Power Play: 1/3

Moncton Power Play: 0/6

Check out the Cape Breton Eagles Statistics

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Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Stories from October 29, 2021


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