Eagles Rally For Point In Shootout Loss To Halifax
– The Cape Breton Eagles rallied from down 4-2 with a pair of power-play third-period goals to earn a point in a 5-4 shootout loss against the Halifax Mooseheads in their season opening game at Centre 200.
– Adam Klaus scored the tying goal after collecting an assist, with Eliot Litalien leading the way for the Eagles with a goal and two assists.
– Reece Peitzsche and Jacob Hartlin also scored for the Eagles, while Brayden Reynolds and Jack Broderick collected their first QMJHL points.
– In addition to Reynolds and Broderick, Easton Anello, Drew Murphy and JT Rothstein all made their QMJHL debuts. Off-season acquisitions Elias Schneider, Cole Chandler and Alonso Gosselin made their Eagles debuts, along with Zakary Savoie, who was recalled for the game.
– Quinn Kennedy paced the attack for Halifax, scoring the game’s opening goal, adding three assists, and scoring in the shootout.
– Jack Fichthorn picked up the win in his QMJHL debut for Halifax, stopping 24 of 28 shots. Eagles rookie netminder Sam Berthiaume took the loss, stopping 29 of 33 shots.
Kennedy’s goal came after the six-minute mark following a coast-to-coast effort. Litalien countered by finishing a cross-ice pass from Klaus at the left side of the net to tie the game. Nico Uschan scored his first career goal 34 seconds later, with his shot bouncing off the post and in. Nathan Langlois capitalized on his own rebound on the power play, and it was a two-goal lead for Halifax at period’s end.
The teams traded goals in the second stanza, each in the final six minutes. Peitzsche’s goal was a well-placed shot just under the crossbar, before Eddy Doyle cashed in on his own rebound to restore the two-goal margin.
The Eagles’ power play came to life early in the third period, as Hartlin converted a pass from Chandler in the opening minute. Then, after the 12-minute mark, Klaus finished a give-and-go with Litalien, and the teams headed to the extra session tied at 4.
Both teams had chances in a fast-paced overtime, but nothing could be solved, and they remained even after Peitzsche and Kennedy scored on their first shootout attempts. After Chandler’s shot went wide, Langlois put Halifax in front, and Litalien failed to score to extend the game.
The Eagles will wrap up opening weekend at home on Sunday afternoon as they welcome back former Eagle Hugo Charron, longtime assistant coach Matt Anthony and the Charlottetown Islanders. Puck drop is at 3 PM. Tickets can be purchased at https://shorturl.at/6vUXt. They are also available for purchase in person at the Centre 200 box office and by phone during box office hours at 902-564-2200.
THREE STARS OF THE GAME
1. Eliot Litalien (Cape Breton) — 1 goal, 2 assists, 17/23 on faceoffs
2. Quinn Kennedy (Halifax) — 1 goal, 3 assists
3. Adam Klaus (Cape Breton) — Game-tying goal, 1 assist
Scratches For Cape Breton: Lucas Beckman (NHL camp), Liam Lefebvre (NHL camp), Maxim Schäfer (NHL camp), Derek Andrews (injury), Tyler Roccas
Scratches For Halifax: Shawn Carrier (NHL camp), Oleg Kulebiakin (NHL camp), Mateo Nobert (NHL camp), William Bent (injury)
Final Shots On Goal: 33-28 in favour of Halifax
Cape Breton Power Play: 2/5
Halifax Power Play: 1/5
