Eagles Push Win Streak To Eight Games With Win In Charlottetown
NOTES FROM THE GAME
– Brayden Schmitt’s power play goal was the lone marker in the third period, breaking a 3-3 tie and giving the Cape Breton Eagles a 4-3 victory over the Charlottetown Islanders. The Eagles rallied from down 2-0 to pick up the win, and the result pushed the Eagles’ league long winning streak to eight games.
– Charles-Antoine Lavallée scored twice while adding an assist and Olivier Houde scored his 30th goal of the season. Simon Hughes scored twice for the Islanders in addition to Ross Campbell who opened the scoring for Charlottetown.
– Nicolas Ruccia stopped 25 of 28 shots in the win. Carter Bickle took the loss in relief, stopping 21 of 22 shots. Aksels Ozols allowed three goals on 17 shots before being replaced by Bickle.
Charlottetown got the start they were looking for- Campbell opened the scoring before the six minute mark. The play began when Cole Huckins swept around Ruccia, put the puck through the crease, and Alexis Michaud flipped it to Campbell who put it in the open net. The lead doubled when an attempted Simon Hughes pass to Kyle Powers bounced off Eagles defenseman Zach Biggar and by Ruccia.
The Eagles got on the board before period’s end, as Lavallée kept on an odd man rush and ripped it through the legs of Ozols. The period ended with a 2-1 score for Charlotteown, but the Eagles wouldn’t be long taking control in the middle stanza.
After being denied by two big glove saves from Ozols in the opening period, Houde paid back the Charlottetown goalkeeper by tying the game on the power play 64 seconds into the second period. And just 28 seconds later, Lavallée ripped a shot under the arm of Ozols, ending the night for the Charlottetown keeper and giving the Eagles a 3-2 lead.
Cape Breton controlled much of the second period going forward, but Charlottetown got their power play breakthrough late in the period. Left alone in front of the goal, Hughes slid the puck under Ruccia to knot the game at 3.
It was the power play again that decided the game, with the final go ahead goal coming at 9:55. Bickle came up with a big save to deny Lavallée of his hat trick, but the rebound came out to Schmitt who fired the puck by Bickle to put the Eagles in the lead.
In the final two minutes, Charlottetown coach Jim Hulton lifted Bickle for an extra attacker but Charlottetown was unable to get any closer and the Eagles secured the victory.
THREE STARS OF THE GAME
1. Charles-Antoine Lavallée (Cape Breton) 2 goals, 1 assist
2. Simon Hughes (Charlottetown) 2 goals
3. Brayden Schmitt (Cape Breton) game winning goal, 1 assist
Scratches For Cape Breton: Jude Campbell (injury), Emile Ricard (injury) Noah Larochelle,
Scratches For Charlottetown: Giovanni Morneau (injury), Anton Topilnyckyj (injury), Ondrej Maruna
Final Shots On Goal: 39-28 in favour of Cape Breton
Cape Breton Power Play: 2/3
Charlottetown Power Play: 1/3