MacDougall’s goal earns Eagles win over Herd
Halifax, NS — The first round of the season in the Battle of Nova Scotia goes to Cape Breton.
Taylor MacDougall scored the winner on the power play in the second period as the Screaming Eagles edged the Halifax Mooseheads 3-2 in their Quebec Major Junior Hockey League season opener Friday at the Halifax Metro Centre.
“I think it’s always good to start with a win,” head coach and general manager Mario Durocher said by phone from Halifax. “I think the guys played hard, there was a lot of intensity.
“We know there’s a lot of work to do, though, but everybody showed up. (Goaltender Francois) Lacerte made some big saves.”
The teams traded goals in the first period. William Carrier netted his first Quebec Major Junior Hockey League goal for the Eagles short-handed, while Pascal Amyot struck for the Mooseheads on the power play.
Most of the offence came in the second frame and the Screaming Eagles veterans led the way. Brad Cuzner beat Mooseheads netminder Peter Delmas blocker side for a 2-1 advantage, followed by MacDougall’s eventual game-winning goal, converting a pass from Viktor Hertzberg.
“That’s what we’re looking for from those guys, to take the lead and show the ropes to the other guys,” said Durocher. “That’s what they did tonight.”
Gerrad Grant also scored in the second to cut the lead to 3-2, but that was as close as the Mooseheads would come to tying things up.
In goal, Lacerte posted his first win as an Eagle, deflecting 29 shots in the triumph. Delmas stopped 22.
Cape Breton continues the road trip tonight when the Eagles challenge the Saint John Sea Dogs at Harbour Station. The Screaming Eagles play their home opener Sept. 24 when they host the P.E.I. Rocket.
