Eagles Topped by Wildcats in Road Trip Opener
Published on March 24, 2022 under Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
Cape Breton Eagles News Release
MONCTON - The Cape Breton Eagles came up short on the first of a three game road trip, falling 5-2 to the Moncton Wildcats after a pair of empty net goals.
The first period was played at a good pace, with plenty of shots but neither team was able to ting the twine. Aside from a single Cape Breton power play, the period was played fully five on five. Moncton outshot the Eagles 15-12.
It may have been a six minute sequence in the early part of the second period that decided the game. At the 2:19 mark, Moncton took the lead when Brooklyn Kalmikov scored from the right faceoff circle, finishing a nice give and go with Yoan Loshing. However, the Eagles were given an opportunity to equalize when Connor Olson was given four minutes for a high for a high stick on Matis Ouellet.
There was a brief 5 on 3 at the end of the power play after Maxim Barbashev was sent to the penalty box, but the Eagles couldn't score on either power play. Ouellet did not return to the game. Moncton also added to the lead before period's end, scoring on their first power play when Barbashev tapped a rebound from a Loshing shot through the legs of Rémi Delafontaine.
Moncton's power play went to work again in the early part of the third period, as Mathis Cloutier lit the lamp after tapping in a hard pass from Kalmikov. But less than two minutes later, an innocent Jérémy Langlois shot redirected off Wildcats forward David Matthews and by Jonathan Lemieux to get the Eagles on the board.
With just over four minutes remaining, Delafontaine was lifted for an extra attacker. But the Eagles could get no closer with him on the bench as Barbashev was able to hit the open goal. The Eagles kept pushing, as Logan Camp buried a shot from in front of the net with 40 seconds to play. Delafontaine was off to the bench again, allowing the Wildcats to hit the open goal in the final two seconds when Jonas Taibel converted a pass from Alex Mercier.
Lemieux picked up the win, stopping 25 of 27 shots. Delafontaine stopped 30 of 33 shots in addition to the empty netter.
The Eagles road trip continues Saturday night in Charlottetown as they take on the Islanders. Puck drop is at 7 PM. The game is available for purchase online at https://watch.chl.ca. 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. Brooklyn Kalmikov (Moncton) 1 goal, 2 assists
2. Yoan Loshing (Moncton) 3 assists
3. Jonathan Lemieux (Moncton) 25 saves on 27 shots
Scratches For Cape Breton: Kiefer Lyons, Lucas Canning, Emile Perron
Scratches For Moncton: Anthony Hamel (injury), Francis Langlois (personal), Thomas Auger (injury), Nathan Casey (injury), Ethan Dollemont (injury), Ethan Dollemont
Final Shots On Goal: 35-27 in favour of Moncton
Cape Breton Power Play: 0/4
Moncton Power Play: 2/3
Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Stories from March 24, 2022
- Sea Dogs Win Streak Ends at 10 in 6-4 Loss to Islanders - Saint John Sea Dogs
- Eagles Topped by Wildcats in Road Trip Opener - Cape Breton Eagles
- Sea Dogs at Islanders: Today at 7:00 PM - Saint John Sea Dogs
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
