Wildcats Have Their Way in Game #1
Published on April 14, 2023 under Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
Halifax Mooseheads News Release
Things did not go according to plan for the Halifax Mooseheads in the opening game of their second round playoff series with the Moncton Wildcats as the visitors executed their game plan to perfection in a 4-1 victory over the Herd at Scotiabank Centre on Friday night.
Jacob Steinman was the first star with 39 saves as the underdog Cats took the early series lead and did so by frustrating the high scoring Moose all night long. Moncton played an excellent defensive game, had the bounces go their way and didn't allow many dangerous chances in front of Steinman with only a late goal from Brady Schultz in the dying minutes of regulation getting through to break the shutout.
Otherwise it was pretty much picture perfect for the Wildcats who scored once in the first period and three times in the second stanza to put the game out of reach. Vincent Labelle got the scoring started at 15:16 of the opening period on a one-time from the slot on the power play with Evan Boucher sitting in the box, serving a Mathis Rousseau tripping minor. Defenceman Natan Grenier then scored on a nifty toe drag just eight seconds after stepping out of the sin bin at 5:08 of the middle period with what stood up as the game-winner. Yoan Loshing made it a 3-0 game nearly four minutes later as he pounced on a rebound to the right of Mathis Rousseau to really silence the crowd of 7,922 in Halifax. Maxim Barbashev rounded out the scoring for the Cats with only 3.2 seconds remaining in the second period as he fired a shot inside the near post as Rousseau couldn't get back across the crease in time to make the save.
Moncton tossed it into shutdown mode in the final 20 minutes and cruised to the Game #1 victory. Final shots were 40-28 for the Mooseheads as the Wildcats went 1-for-4 on the man advantage and Halifax was 0-for-3. The Moose will look to bounce back Saturday night at 7pm on home ice in Game #2 of the series. Tickets are on sale now at TicketAtlantic.com
Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Stories from April 14, 2023
- Wildcats Steal Game 1 in Halifax 4-1 - Moncton Wildcats
- Wildcats Have Their Way in Game #1 - Halifax Mooseheads
- Isles Launch Details for 2023/24 Season Tickets - Charlottetown Islanders
- QMJHL unveils its 2022-23 Defensive Rookie of the Year - QMJHL
- QMJHL Unveils Its 2022-23 Defensive Rookie of the Year - Charlottetown Islanders
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