PREVIEW | Isles host Eagles for two-game set to end regular season
By Kyle Cotton
The Charlottetown Islanders will close out the regular season with a two game homestand this weekend against division rivals, the Cape Breton Eagles.
Head coach Jim Hulton knows what the team has to work on to end the regular season on a high note.
“I think it’s the goals-against column. We have been talking about that for quite some time. We’re looking for some timely saves and we’ll have to do better with our puck management,” he said.
Islanders report (26-33-5-2)
Charlottetown is only 2-7-1-0 (wins-losses-overtime losses-shootout losses) in their last ten games, but have earned points in their last seven home games, including two wins in a row.
Finally some good news is coming out of the injury front. Giovanni Morneau and Carl-Etienne Michel have been officially cleared to play. Morneau is expected to return to the lineup for at least one of the two games left in the regular season. Michel is expected to suit up for both games heading into the playoffs.
Anton Topilnyckyj will remain out of the lineup but is projected to be back for game one of against Baie-Comeau.
Aksels Ozols will tend the goal Friday evening to open the back-to-back. Ozols (10-16), is posting a 3.92 goals against average and an .873 save percentage through 29 appearances. In his last start, Ozols was great stopping 23 of 25 shots in a 6-2 win over the Saint John Sea Dogs.
Carter Bickle will get the nod on Saturday. Bickle (16-24) has an .887 SV% and a 3.56 GAA through 43 appearances with a shutout. Bickle bounced back nicely from a disappointing performance last weekend as on Wednesday, March 20, he earned third star by stopping 26 of 27 shots in a 3-1 win over the Acadie-Bathurst Titan.
Captain Michael Horth has now reached a career high in goals, assists and points this season. His 32 goals and 50 points leads the team in both categories. The 20-year-old will be playing his final two regular season games this weekend and he will be more motivated than ever to continue adding to his career season.
Will Shields continues to prove to be a solid acquisition during the trade period for the Isles. He has 18 points through his first 28 games wearing the black and gold. Shields is also coming off of a two-point-performance against the Titan (1g,1a). The Falmouth, N.S. native will be looking to end his first season in Charlottetown with a bang.
P.E.I. native Isaac Vos has two points in three games since returning from injury. Vos has solidified himself as a solid defender for the Isles this season scoring 25 points, shattering his career high of four last year.
Leading scorers
Michael Horth | 32-18-50 |
Marcus Kearsey | 7-42-49 |
Cole Huckins | 19-26-45 |
Power play – 48/212 (22.64%)
Penalty kill – 55/207 (73.43%)
Goals for – 198
Goals against – 258
Eagles report (37-26-1-2)
Cape Breton is one of if not the hottest teams in the league as they’ve won their last seven games. Most recently, they took down the Moncton Wildcats by a score of 3-1.
Cam Squires has led the way for the Eagles all season, but recently he has taken his game to the next level. Since the beginning of March, he has just one game where he was held pointless and has scored 13 points in eight games. Just two games ago, he scored five points against the Titan.
Forward Antoine Roy had a major impact in their most recent game in Moncton with a goal and an assist in the 3-1 win. Roy has 11 goals and 15 assists for 26 points this season. He has set career highs in all three stats.
In the last meeting between these clubs, Olivier Houde took over the game in the second period scoring a hat trick in under 12 minutes. Houde went on to have a six game point streak before he was held pointless in Moncton.
Leading scorers
Cam Squires | 32-37-69 |
Olivier Houde | 29-29-58 |
Cole Burbidge | 14-42-56 |
Power play – 43/213 (20.19%)
Penalty kill – 42/225 (81.33%)
Goals for – 206
Goals against – 187
Final notes – Cole Huckins still sits just one point back of the 200-point mark for his career. With just two regular season games left, expect him to be playing in front of the net, in the dirty areas to come through.
Simon Hughes needs one goal to reach the 20-goal mark for the first time in his career. The fan-favourite has four points in his last three games and is riding a 3-game goal streak.
Puck drop tonight is at 7 p.m. and tomorrow is at 4 p.m. Purchase tickets here.
Fans are reminded that playoff ticket packages are on sale now. More information is here. Ticket packages can be purchased by calling the Eastlink Centre box office at (902) 629-6625. Single game tickets can be purchased here starting March 25.