Phoenix Blank the Moose in Tight Game
February 25, 2023 - Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
Halifax Mooseheads News Release
There was a playoff atmosphere in Sherbrooke on Saturday night where the hometown Phoenix used a big third period to shutout the Mooseheads 3-0 at Palais des Sports Leopold-Drolet.
A boisterous crowd of 4,005 watched Mathis Rousseau make 36 saves for Halifax while Phoenix forward Cole Huckins scored the game-winner through the five-hole on a nice play 6:02 into the final period of regulation. Josh Roy doubled the lead on a deflection off a point shot midway through the period and Jacob Melanson added an empty net tally in a game where the Moose had trouble breaking through the defence of Sherbrooke to create chances against goalie Olivier Adam. The final shots were 39-22 in favour of the Phoenix who trail the Herd by two points for second in the overall QMJHL standings.
The win was a measure of revenge for Sherbrooke who fell 6-2 at Scotiabank Centre on January 14th in the only other meeting of the teams this season. Rousseau was named the third star of the game on Saturday after his stellar performance. The goalie was playing for the second consecutive night after earning the win between the pipes in Victoriaville on Friday. Halifax played the game with five defenceman after Cam Whynot was ruled out during warmup with an illness. Rugged defenceman Dylan MacKinnon was also held out of the lineup with a one-game suspension following his third fight of the season on Friday which resulted in the automatic suspension for an accumulation of fighting codes. 16-year-old forward Antoine Fontaine was called up for his QMJHL debut and played on the fourth line. Head Coach Sylvain Favreau gave Fontaine the thrill of being in the starting lineup to begin the contest in front of a group of family and friends. The young Mooseheads prospect hails from nearby Granby, QC which is just 60 minutes down the highway. He has had an excellent season with the Magog Cantonniers where he has scored 23 goals and 33 assists for 56 points which is good for second in the QM18AAA league.
The Mooseheads (39-9-4-3) will wrap up their toughest road trip of the season on Sunday afternoon at 4pm AST against the QMJHL-leading Quebec Remparts. It won't be an easy task, but the Herd fully expect to be prepared for the challenge. The next home game for the Mooseheads is scheduled for Thursday, March 2nd against the Saint John Sea Dogs. Thursdays are Student Nights in Moose Country with tickets just $10 for fans with student ID. Tickets are on sale now at TicketAtlantic.com.
Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Stories from February 25, 2023
- Eagles Top Sea Dogs on Heritage Night - Cape Breton Eagles
- Phoenix Blank the Moose in Tight Game - Halifax Mooseheads
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