Islanders steal another win from Cape Breton
Charlottetown, PE — After a shootout victory in Cape Breton last Sunday, it was now the Islanders turn to host the Eagles in hopes of going 2-for-2.
It was a big game for Charlottetown’s Will Shields as he celebrated a big anniversary hitting 250 games played in the league. The former Eagle not only celebrated that milestone on home ice, but he also got to celebrate it beating his former team, the Cape Breton Eagles.
Hudson Armstrong also made his QMJHL debut after signing as a free agent with the Islanders during the off season.
A site we’ve seen twice already – Donald Hickey started between the pipes for the Islanders; facing off against Eagles, Lucas Beckman. Hickey was tested early making a couple of phenomenal saves, but the pressure didn’t stop there as it was an on going theme throughout the first period. After Matthew Butler took the Islanders second penalty of the game it only took Eagles, Noah Jettelson, a few seconds before finding the back of the net from the point. The Islanders powerplay kept on a rocky stretch in the first period while Beckman stayed sharp for the Eagles.
To start the second frame the Eagles got right back to work and the physicality from both teams ramped up as an early scrum filled both penalty boxes. The penalties took over in the second – totalling a whopping 23. Twelve of those went to the Islanders and eleven to the Eagles. A kneeing penalty from Eagles, Reece Peitzsche on Islanders Kage Flory started another full line brawl, sending Peitzsche out with both a 5 minute and game penalty. The Islanders had limited chances. They did have one odd man rush but, Beckman made a highlight reel save on his blocker side. Another heated moment came after Eagles Drew Murphy bumped Hickey after a great cross crease save. Despite all the stoppages Hickey stayed focused as he stood on his head for the whole 20 minutes of play. The Eagles repeatedly had numbers entering the zone and breakaways but couldn’t put one past him. The Islanders only tested Beckman four times that period, but did have a handful of chances. The one Eagles goal in the first was still the difference after forty minutes of play.
The Islanders completely flipped the script in the third period. It was all Islanders putting the Eagles on their heals. They were rewarded immediately with a goal from Matthew Butler to tie the game after a fortunate bounce leaving a loose puck out front. The Islanders didn’t stop there. They got away from the rough stuff and played very disciplined hockey until the final buzzer. At the end of an action packed shift, Assistant Captain Antoine Provencher swatted home a bouncing puck that put the Islanders up 2-1. The Eagles only threw 6 pucks at Hickey all period. The Islanders capped it off with 2 empty net goals. One from Antoine Boudreau as he keeps his 3 game goal streak alive, and the other from Nolan Duskocy making it his first of the year. Once again Donald Hickey had a fantastic game as Cape Breton outshot Charlottetown 29-25
The Islanders have a quick turnaround as they hit the road to Moncton tomorrow night for a 7:00 p.m. puck drop.
Season Tickets and 15-Game Packs for the 2026-27 season are on sale now. Fans can secure their seats for an exciting new era of Islanders hockey by purchasing online or visiting the Eastlink Centre Box Office.
Written by Carson Grigg
