Volts Snap the Mooseheads' 25-Game Streak
February 10, 2023 - Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
Halifax Mooseheads News Release
A late goal in regulation by Jordan Dumais tied the game for the Mooseheads who stormed back from a three-goal deficit, but a win just wasn't in the cards for the Herd who wound up on the losing end of a 6-4 score in Drummondville. The defeat also signaled the end of an incredible 25-game points streak that had seen the team go unbeaten in regulation time since November 27th. That's 75 days without a regulation loss.
Dumais was barely done celebrating his power play snipe, the third man advantage goal of the night for the Herd, when Drummondville defenceman Mikael Diotte sent a point shot through traffic to beat a screened Mathis Rousseau and restore the Voltigeurs lead for good at 5-4. The Diotte tally came with just 1:47 to go in the game and was only 30 seconds after the Halifax equalizer. An empty net goal in the final minute secured the win for Drummondville to put an end to the streak and an emotional day for the Herd.
The Mooseheads received word of an indefinite suspension to forward Zach L'Heureux just a few hours prior to puck drop after a reversal of decision by the QMJHL following an incident involving a fan in Gatineau as the 19-year-old left the ice in a charged up atmosphere on Thursday at the Slush Puppie Centre. The league is expected to make a final decision on the length of suspension in the coming days.
Halifax didn't get off to the start they would have liked in Drummondville, despite Josh Lawrence opening the scoring 6:57 into the game. That was the lone bright spot in the first period for the visitors who were a step behind the Volts for much of the opening 20 minutes. Drummondville responded with three goals from Tristan Roy, Luke Woodworth and Maveric Lamoureux while outshooting the Moose 19-8 in the opening stanza.
The middle period featured an unlucky start for the Mooseheads with defenceman David Moravec losing an edge and his balance as he fell into Rousseau, knocking his goalie stick away in the process and the Volts were able to come out of the corner and float a shot past a stunned and out-of-position Rousseau just 24 seconds after the opening draw. The fortunate strike for Jeremy Lapointe gave Drummondville a healthy 4-1 lead and it looked like a longshot for Halifax to be able to mount a comeback. The visitors hung tough though and their game started to come together bit by bit and they would eventually break through with their lethal power play unit. Alexandre Doucet scored the first of his two goals on the night off a nice feed by Markus Vidicek to slice the deficit to 4-2. Dumais also had an assist on the goal as part of a three-point evening for the Blue Jackets prospect.
Drummondville carried the 4-2 lead into the third period where Halifax ramped up the pressure once again and it was Doucet again on the power play at the 6:52 mark when he crashed the net and banged one in two bring the Herd within a goal. Doucet then drew a late penalty on a high sticking call against the Voltigeurs and Jordan Dumais made them pay with a perfect far-side shot that beat Riley Mercer to tie the game. The Moose went three-for-three on the power play in the match. Unfortunately, it wasn't meant to be for Halifax as Diotte lit the lamp 30 seconds later to quickly squash the hopes of the Mooseheads. Tristan Roy fired one into an empty net with 32 seconds left in regulation for his second goal of the night to send the Herd packing.
Cam Whynot left the game early with an upper body injury and did not return. The defenceman is listed as day-to-day.
Final shots were 38-36 in favour of Drummondville. Halifax's record now sits at 35-8-4-3 for 77 points. The team has officially locked up a playoff berth and remain second overall in the QMJHL standings, eight points back of the Quebec Remparts who also lost on Friday night.
The road trip wraps up on Saturday afternoon in Shawinigan when the Moose face off with the Cataractes at 5pm AST. The next home game for the Herd is coming up on Friday, February 17th at 7pm against the Acadie-Bathurst Titan at Scotiabank Centre. Tickets are on sale now at TicketAtlantic.com.
Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Stories from February 10, 2023
- Eagles Set to Finish Three in Three in Blainville-Boisbriand - Cape Breton Eagles
- Volts Snap the Mooseheads' 25-Game Streak - Halifax Mooseheads
- Steinman Stymies Titan, Cats' Offense Does the Rest - Moncton Wildcats
- Eagle Rallies Fall Short in 5-4 Loss in Shawinigan - Cape Breton Eagles
- DesRoches Scores OT Winner in Charlottetown - Saint John Sea Dogs
- Zachary L'Heureux Suspended Indefinitely - QMJHL
- The One for All Festival Presented by TD Is One Week Away - Saint John Sea Dogs
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