Eagles Fall to Mooseheads in First Meeting of New Year
Published on January 30, 2021 under Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
Cape Breton Eagles News Release
SYDNEY - Both teams rallied at Centre 200 on Saturday, but it was the Halifax Mooseheads with the last laugh in a 6-3 win over the Cape Breton Eagles.
Halifax looked to have opened the scoring in the first period when Zachary L'Heureux knocked his own rebound up and over Nicolas Ruccia- but after a review it was deemed that the play was offside. It seemed as though the game would be scoreless through the first 20 minutes.
However, after sustained Halifax possession in the Eagles zone, Cameron Whynot ripped a shot into the corner over Ruccia. There was .6 seconds remaining on the clock and the visitors went to the dressing room with a 1-0 lead.
The late goal would not break the Eagles- in fact the middle stanza belonged to the home team. The Eagles' scoring began with Lucas Canning firing a puck into a mostly open cage for a power play marker. Then it was Liam Kidney's turn to shine- first scoring with a backhand from the left side, and scoring another goal from the other side to put the Eagles up 3-1 heading into the third period. The second goal came with just 13 seconds remaining in the period.
Unfortunately for the home side the ice appeared to be tilted. Zachary L'Heureux brought the Mooseheads within one goal after stuffing the puck shortside on Ruccia, and then Bobby Orr finished a nifty passing play from L'Heureux to tie the game at three.
It remained tied heading into the final five minutes, but Justin Barron would put the visitors in front- receiving a pass deep in the Cape Breton end, cutting towards the slot and burying the go ahead goal by the Eagles goalkeeper. With 2:33 left, Ruccia was lifted for an extra attacker.
The Eagles' net minder was not long out of the goal before Zack Jones found the back of the net to push the lead to 5-3. With still over two minutes remaining, the Eagles would pull the goaltender once more, but were unable to get closer as Whynot potted his second of the day into an open cage to make it a 6-3 final.
Alexis Gravel stopped 32 of 35 shots in picking up the win for Halifax, while Ruccia turned aside 28 of 32 in addition to the empty net goals.
The Eagles will now head to Charlottetown to take on the Islanders on Saturday, February 6th. The game will be streamed online, available for purchase at qmjhl.neulion.com/qmjhl. You can also hear all the action beginning with the pre-game show with Patrick McNeil at 6:30 PM on 1270 AM CJCB or online at www.cjcbradio.com
THREE STARS OF THE GAME
1. Justin Barron (Halifax) 1 goal, 2 assists, +5
2. Cameron Whynot (Halifax) 2 goals, 1 assist, +4
3. Liam Kidney (Cape Breton) 2 goals
Scratches For Cape Breton: Ivan Ivan (border), Mikhail Nizovkin (border), Mark Rumsey (quarantine), Dawson Stairs (quarantine), Jacob Squires (lower body injury)
Scratches For Halifax: Alexandre Tessier (upper body injury), Keegan Hunt (injury), Alexandre David, Lucas Robinson, William Robitaille, Landon Miron
Final Shots On Goal: 35-34 shots on goal in favour of Cape Breton
Cape Breton Power Play: 1/3
Halifax Power Play: 0/2
Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Stories from January 30, 2021
- Eagles Fall to Mooseheads in First Meeting of New Year - Cape Breton Eagles
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