Eagles Fall Short In Shootout Against Islanders
NOTES FROM THE GAME
– The Cape Breton Eagles came from behind three times to earn a point in a 4-3 shootout loss to the Charlottetown Islanders on Sunday afternoon at Centre 200. Each of the three regulation periods saw Charlottetown score first, with the Eagles countering before the end of the period.
– Will Shields scored in the seventh round of the shootout to break the deadlock, after each team had scored once in the first six rounds.
– Cole Chandler and Reece Peitzsche both scored and added an assist for the Eagles. Elias Schneider also scored, while Brayden Reynolds added two assists.
– Donald Hickey stopped 56 of 59 shots in the win for the Islanders, while Sam Berthiaume stopped 26 of 29 shots in the Eagles’ net.
– Forward Zakary Savoie, recalled from the MHL’s Campbellton Tigers by the Eagles prior to Friday’s game, remained in the lineup for the second time this season.
The visitors got the start they wanted as Antoine Boudreau tipped a Cameron Holyoke shot by Berthiaume just 80 seconds into the opening frame. But the Eagles overwhelmed the Islanders with chances, registering 21 shots in the first frame, and found the back of the net after a nifty pass from Jacob Hartlin from behind the net landed on Chandler’s stick and then in the back of the net.
In the second period, it was former Eagle Hugo Charron putting Charlottetown in front as he zapped a shot from the right faceoff circle by Berthiaume. But the Eagles once again countered, this time on the power play. Schneider finally found the back of the net, on his seventh shot of the game, tipping a tying goal by Hickey.
At 7:02 of the third period, the Islanders moved in front again when Antoine Provencher tipped a point shot past Berthiaume, making the score 3-2. This time, the Eagles would counter in just 63 seconds, with Peitzsche cashing in on a cross-crease pass from Chandler to even the game.
After being heavily outshot in each of the first three periods, Charlottetown outshot Cape Breton 6-4 in overtime, which saw high-end action at both ends of the ice. The extra five minutes settled nothing, and the game headed to a shootout.
The two teams took turns scoring in the opening two rounds, with Anthony Flanagan opening the scoring for Charlottetown and Jack Broderick countering for Cape Breton, while Peitzsche and Owen Conrad failed to score. The offence then went dry as neither team scored in the next four rounds. Provencher, Matthew Butler, Kage Flory, and Nolan Duskocy failed to capitalize for Charlottetown, while Reynolds, Schneider, Adam Klaus, and Hartlin were all unable to score for the Eagles.
Shields put Charlottetown ahead in round seven. There was a review, but it was deemed a good goal. Chandler had the chance to counter, but couldn’t beat Hickey, and Charlottetown skated away with the win.
These two teams will complete their home-and-home series when the Eagles visit the Islanders on Friday night in Charlottetown. Puck drop is at 7 p.m. The game is available for purchase on https://shorturl.at/YwZ1N, and you can also hear all the action on 1270 AM CJCB or online at www.cjcbradio.com.
THREE STARS OF THE GAME
1. Donald Hickey (Charlottetown) 56 saves on 59 shots
2. Reece Peitzche (Cape Breton) 1 goal, 1 assist, 9 shots
3. Elias Schneider (Cape Breton) 1 goal, 8 shots
Scratches For Cape Breton: Lucas Beckman (NHL camp), Liam Lefebvre (NHL camp), Maxim Schäfer (NHL camp), Jax Ginnish, Tyler Roccas
Scratches For Charlottetown: Hudson Armstrong, Nathan Forst, Oleksii Kryvonos
Final Shots On Goal: 59-29 in favour of Cape Breton
Cape Breton Power Play: 1/5
Charlottetown Power Play: 0/3
