Eagles win 5-3 as Mandolese records 1st career QMJHL win
SYDNEY – This season the Charlottetown Islanders seem to have the QMJHL figured out- except for the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles.
Heading into Friday’s game with a 4-1 record having lost only to the Eagles, Charlottetown came up empty again against their rivals from another island as Cape Breton sent the Centre 200 crowd home happy with a 5-3 victory. It was a big night for Kevin Mandolese, who posted his first career victory in goal for the Eagles.
Phélix Martineau continued his strong play in opening the scoring for the home side, converting a pass from Massimo Carozza at the 3:40 mark. At the halfway mark of the opening stanza, Drake Batherson doubled the lead after picking off a pass from Cody Donaghey and ripping it over the shoulder of Matthew Welsh.
Charlottetown would respond and tie the game before the period was out. First it was star import Filip Chlapik cashing in on the man advantage. Forty seven seconds later Kameron Kielly beat Mandolese from a sharp angle and the teams were locked at two headed to the break.
The second period opened the same way the first period did- with a Martineau goal in the fourth minute of play, this one coming on the man advantage. Cape Breton would hold the lead through the middle frame which would see things heat up between the two rivals. Dillon Boucher and Pascal Aquin engaged in a spirited tussle with multiple heavy blows landed.
Carl Gervais would knot the game again, at the 4:50 mark of the third period and it looked like the teams were destined for overtime. Cape Breton couldn’t capitalise after Aquin took a penalty at 12:45, and Charlottetown couldn’t take advantage when Sacha Roy went to the box at 16:27. The Eagles did not allow the Islanders much on the power play, and in the process would turn the game around.
Massimo Carozza took the puck out of the Cape Breton zone as the Roy penalty was ticking down. He worked his way up through multiple Islander players and skated into the Islanders end up the left wing. He then deked towards the net around Donaghey and beat Welsh along the ice for the game winning goal with 90 seconds to play. Half a minute later, Tobie Bisson sealed the deal with an empty net goal.
Mandolese made 20 saves in the win, while Welsh would allow four goals on 28 shots in the loss.
Sunday afternoon marks the end of a three game home stand for the Screaming Eagles as they host the Gatineau Olympiques. Puck drop is at 3 PM. Tickets can be purchased at Centre 200 box office, by calling 902-564-2200 or online at https://tickets.capebreton.ca/Online/default.asp
Three stars:
1. Phélix Martineau (Cape Breton) 2 goals, 4 shots, +1
2. Massimo Carozza (Cape Breton) 1 goal, 1 assist, 4 shots
3. Declan Smith (Cape Breton) 1 shot
Scratches For Cape Breton: Duncan MacIntyre, Joseph Mizzi, Marcus Tesink, Anthony Beauchamp, Adam McCormick
Scratches For Charlottetown: Keith Getson (suspension), Johnny Foley, Trevor Stacey
Final Shots On Goal: 29-23 in favour of Cape Breton
Cape Breton Power Play: 1/4
Charlottetown Power Play: 1/5
