The Halifax Mooseheads secured a convincing 5-2 victory against the Charlottetown Islanders at the Scotiabank Centre, showcasing their offensive prowess in a strong first period that laid the foundation for their win.
Halifax opened the scoring just 1 minute and 56 seconds into the game when Danny Walters seized a loose puck in open ice and unleashed a powerful shot that found the back of the net, beating goaltender Donald Hickey. Building on this momentum, the Mooseheads capitalized on a power play opportunity, where Shawn Carrier received a precise pass from Owen Phillips and unleashed a blistering one-timer from the right faceoff circle, extending Halifax's lead. Following this, Cameron Minella added to the Islanders' woes by firing a shot from the point, which deflected off a defender and slipped past Hickey, increasing the Mooseheads' advantage to three goals early in the first period.
In the second period, the Islanders rallied to narrow the gap. William Shields initiated the comeback by scoring, followed by Brady Peddle, who also found the net, effectively cutting the Mooseheads’ lead to just one goal and igniting hope for Charlottetown as they entered the final period of the game.
However, Halifax responded decisively in the third period. Quinn Kennedy scored early on with a precisely executed one-timer, converting another pass from Phillips, thereby restoring the two-goal cushion for the Mooseheads. As the clock wound down, Patrick McNab sealed the victory with an empty-net goal at 16:12, catching Hickey off guard as the Islanders had pulled their goaltender in a desperate attempt to equalize.
This win advanced the Halifax Mooseheads' record to 15 wins, 10 losses, 1 overtime loss, and 1 shootout loss, showcasing their growth and competitiveness in the current season. The match was also significant for the Mooseheads as they swept the three stars of the game. Carrier's performance not only included a goal but also an assist, earning him the first star of the game. Phillips, with his impressive three assists, was awarded the second star, while Owen Bresson impressively turned away 28 shots, earning him the title of the third star.
Looking ahead, the Halifax Mooseheads will be back on the ice on Saturday, December 13, where they will face the Moncton Wildcats at the Avenir Centre. Fans can look forward to puck drop scheduled for 7 p.m., with live coverage available on 95.7 NewsRadio, featuring the insights of Garreth MacDonald.
