RECAP | Titan best depleted Isles 5-2
Bathurst, NB – The Charlottetown Islanders’ losing streak hits six games as they fall to the Acadie-Bathurst Titan 5-2 Sunday afternoon.
The Islanders were down to just four defensemen as both Anton Topilnyckyj and Carl-Etienne Michel both suffered injuries in last nights’ affair against the Moncton Wildcats.
Carter Bickle stopped 30 of 34 shots faced in the loss.
Bathurst starts strong, but still scoreless after one
The Titan started to take control of the game early, recording the first six shots on goal.
They were helped as Kyle Powers took an interference penalty early as he just clipped Bathurst goaltender Antoine Keller while skating by.
Bickle and the short-handed unit stopped their power play in their tracks.
Bathurst took a penalty of their own soon after. Ross Campbell drew it while driving the net.
While on the man advantage, Charlottetown couldn’t get much going, and the game stayed scoreless.
P.E.I. native Dawson Sharkey and defenseman Emile Perron tested Bickle, but he kept the door shut.
The score stayed even at zero’s after the first period. Bathurst was outshooting Charlottetown 12-3.
Titan lead by one after two
Bathurst had a similar start to the opening frame to start the second. Noah Laberge and Colby Huggan each had chances, but Bickle stood strong.
Then, Bathurst got one. Dylan Andrews fired a shot high-glove side to beat Bickle to open the scoring.
Sharkey was called for interference three minutes later and the Isles had a timely power play.
Charlottetown struggled to get the puck moving at first, but then it clicked.
The momentum gained from the man advantage allowed Powers to score his fifth of the season to tie the game at one goal apiece. Campbell and Marcus Kearsey assisted on the marker.
After denying the Bathurst captain, Milo Roelens, the Isles held the Titan to minimal chances, but they broke through again.
Matthew McRae managed to snap a shot through Bickle to restore the one goal lead for Bathurst with under two minutes to go in the period.
Hard fought third ends in Bathurst win
The Islanders came out for the third period knowing they had to make a statement. That they did.
Powers scored his second of the game, getting by the Bathurst defender and beating Keller low-blocker side with a back-hand shot. The game tying goal marked the first multi goal game of his career. Kearsey added his second assist of the afternoon on the goal as well.
Cole Huckins had two nice chances back-to-back but was denied by Keller, keeping the game knotted at two.
Then, Andrews scored again. He and Robert Orr went on a two-on-one rush and Andrews beat Bickle to once again restore the lead for Bathurst.
Owen Conrad responded with another chance from the Islanders’ depleted blue-line, but Keller stood his ground.
Orr doubled the Titan lead though. He scored his second point in just as many shifts. He took a feed in front of the net and he won the one-on-one battle. Bathurst led 4-2.
The Isles were awarded a power play late in the game. Head coach Jim Hulton called Bickle to the bench for the extra attacker.
Alexis Michaud shot one right on the doorstep, but Keller turned him aside. Will Shields continued to push with the six-on-four advantage, but was denied again by Keller.
Eventually, the puck was broken out and Roelens was able to put it in the Isles empty net, sealing the 5-2 victory for Bathurst.
They outshot Charlottetown 34-18 while also outhitting them 12-7.
The Islanders hit the ice again in Halifax as they take on the Mooseheads on Thursday, March 14. Fans can tune into the game at MAX 93.1. Puck drop at the Scotiabank Centre is at 7 p.m.
