QMJHL Charlottetown Islanders

Islanders Fall in OT After 3-Goal Comeback

Published on November 20, 2018 under Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
Charlottetown Islanders News Release


On a rare Tuesday night game, the Charlottetown Islanders displayed the tenacity and never-back-down attitude that endeared them to fans throughout last season. The Isles battled back from a 3-0 deficit to push the Halifax Mooseheads in to overtime. The Moose would ultimately get the upper hand, however, defeating the Isles 4-3 in the extra frame.

The action in the first period got underway almost instantly; unfortunately for the Isles, it was in favour of the Mooseheads. Jared McIsaac, the Detroit Red Wings prospect pinching in from the blueline, corrals the puck behind the Islanders net and tucks the wraparound past starter Matthew Welsh to give Halifax the early 1-0 lead.

The rest of the first period was controlled primarily by the Mooseheads. They'd extend their lead near the end of the first; Arnaud Durandeau would get the pass down low and make a slick play to get the puck on to his forehand and dance around Welsh for his 11th goal of the season.

That lead would be extended just seconds later, as Antoine Morand would tip-in the Jocktan Chainey point shot past Welsh for his 10th goal on the season.

As the second period opened up, the pendulum of momentum swung back in favour of Charlottetown. The Isles would fire shot after shot on Mooseheads starter Alexis Gravel throughout the period. It took some extra ice with 4-on-4 play for the Isles to capitalize; After a big stretch pass from Hunter Drew, Nikita Alexandrov would walk in to the offensive zone and find Derek Gentile in front with a cross-crease pass. Gentile would make no mistake on the open net, cutting the Mooseheads lead to two with his fifth goal of the season.

The pressure continued for the remainder of the second period and in to the third for Charlottetown, generating quality scoring chances and buzzing all over the offensive end. The buzzing finally paid off; a loose puck would deflect to Colin Van Den Hurk in the slot, who would snap a wrister top shelf past Gravel for his third goal of the season.

The Isles completed the comeback just 30 seconds later thanks to relentless pressure and a fortuitous bounce. Daniel Hardie entered the Mooseheads zone and threw a shot at Gravel. The puck would deflect off the Halifax defender and squeak between the arm and side of the netminder, tying the game up and sending it to overtime.

The extra frame saw a flurry of offense go both ways. Hardie had the best chance for the Isles, streaking in on Gravel and making a deft move, only for the Chicago Blackhawks prospect to stick a leg out and kick the puck to the side of the net.

As the game crept closer to the shootout, the Mooseheads caught a break. Lukas Cormier was penalized for tripping with just under 2 minutes to play in the extra frame, sending the Moose to a 4-on-3 powerplay where Benoit-Olivier Groulx made no mistake, beating Welsh for his 13th goal of the season and the game-winner, sending the Halifax crowd home happy.

Matthew Welsh was stellar in net for Charlottetown, making 18 saves in the defeat. In the opposite crease, Alexis Gravel was just as spectacular, making 33 saves in the victory.

Groulx and McIsaac would each finish the game with a goal and an assist for Halifax, while Nikita Alexandrov had two assists and Derek Gentile collected two points for Charlottetown.

The Islanders are back in action Friday night as they head to Bathurst once again to take on the Titan. That game kicks off three games in three nights, as the Isles are back home Saturday night to take on the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles, and Sunday afternoon to do battle with the Baie-Comeau Drakkar. Tickets for both of those games can be purchased at the Eastlink Centre box office, by phone at 902-629-6625, or online at boxoffice.eastlinkcentrepei.com.

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Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Stories from November 20, 2018


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