Isles Win-Streak Hits 3 Beating the Eagles 3-1
February 22, 2024 - Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
Charlottetown Islanders News Release
Sydney, NS - The Charlottetown Islanders squeak away with their third straight win, defeating the Cape Breton Eagles 3-1 Thursday night.
Carter Bickle continues to be red hot for the Isles, stopping 35 of 36 shots en route to his 14th win of the season.
The captain leading by example in first
The Isles went to the power play early after a tripping call against Émile Ricard.
Charlottetown capitalised early in the man advantage. Michael Horth spun and fired the puck five-hole on Eagles netminder Jakub Milota to open the scoring. Giovanni Morneau and Marcus Kearsey assisted.
Both teams were going shot for shot until they were knotted up at four apiece, but the Islanders started to take control.
Charlottetown started to keep Cape Breton in their own zone. Former Eagle, Will Shields made a diving play to get the puck to Isaac Vos who shot it on goal. Horth tipped it and scored his second of the period, and 27th of the season to double their lead to 2-0.
Soon after, Morneau made a sneaky pass to Alexis Michaud through traffic, but Milota came across and made a stellar save to stop his chance.
Carl-Etienne Michel wasn't able to get the puck along the boards while defending a rush. But he re-positioned and forced a turnover.
Then, Will Allen earned a chance all alone against Milota after a takeaway. The netminder shut him down though.
Kyle Powers took a holding penalty with just over a minute to go in the opening frame, but the Isles' penalty kill unit stopped what came their way.
Isles hold momentum, lead 3-1 after two
The Isles killed off the rest of the penalty and went on the rush, eventually drawing their second power play of the night.
Shields took a nice shot on goal and Milota kicked the rebound out for Simon Hughes, but he got back in position just in time.
Just after the power play chance expired, the Isles took a bench minor for too many men on the ice.
The Eagles scored on their second power play chance of the evening. Island native Cam Squires potted his 25th of the season to bring the game back within one.
But Michaud responded almost immediately. Owen Conrad rushed into the offensive end to keep the puck in. He shot it on Milota and the rebound popped right out to Michaud and he cashed in his 15th goal of the season. Vos added his second assist of the night.
The puck stayed in the Cape Breton zone for the majority of the rest of the period.
As the clock was winding down, Morneau was given time and space in front of the goal and he fed it to Horth, but the back-hand shot went wide.
The puck was kept in the zone and Horth found himself all alone against Milota but he once again kept the door shut, keeping the Eagles within two goals.
The score would stay at 3-1 in favour of the Islanders at the end of the period. They were outshooting the Eagles 28-17 going into the second intermission.
Eagles push back in third, but Isles pull away with the win
Powers took his second penalty of the game to open the final stanza. The Eagles had chances on the power play but Bickle fought through traffic to stop everything that came his way on the penalty kill.
Being a man up gave a push to the Eagles. Bickle had to be on his a-game and he stood up to the challenge.
Cole Huckins took a slashing penalty to put the Isles down a man again. Once again Bickle stood tall to prevent an Eagles goal.
After Huckins came out of the box, he skated over the blueline and snapped a shot on Milota, trying to swing momentum back in the Islanders' favour.
With just over six minutes left in regulation, Charlottetown was awarded another power play. Xavier Daigle was called for high-sticking.
Although they couldn't add an insurance goal, it took pressure away from the Eagles. Huckins and Kearsey each had chances turned aside by Milota.
As time was running out, the Eagles pulled Milota for the extra attacker. It was too late.
The Islanders pulled away with a 3-1 win despite battling adversity all throughout the third period.
Shots were tied at 36 apiece at the final buzzer. Bickle was awarded third star for his 35 saves on 36 shots.
The Isles return to the ice again on Saturday as they pay a visit to the Moncton Wildcats in the first half of a home-and-home.
Puck drop at the Avenir Centre is at 7 p.m.
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Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Stories from February 22, 2024
- Vidicek's 4-Point Night Powers Moose Over Phoenix - Halifax Mooseheads
- Eagles Fall 3-1 to Islanders on Thursday Night at Nest - Cape Breton Eagles
- Isles Win-Streak Hits 3 Beating the Eagles 3-1 - Charlottetown Islanders
- Black History Month: Frantz Jean and Racism - Moncton Wildcats
- Isles Visit WildTown on Saturday for Pride Game - Moncton Wildcats
- Isles Hit the Road to Take on the Eagles - Charlottetown Islanders
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