Charlottetown goes undefeated on Quebec Road-Trip
The Isles just keep on winning.
The Islanders rolled into Drummondville for game 3 of their Quebec road trip on Sunday.
The team was coming off of back-to-back victories against Victoriaville and Sherbrooke and looked to keep the good times rolling against the Voltigeurs.
Backup goaltender Dakota Lund-Cornish got the start in this one and was outstanding from start to finish.
The Islanders opened the scoring 15:49 into the first period on a wrap-around shot from assistant captain Pascal Aquin.
Aquin received a pass from line-mate Keith Getson before outmuscling the Drummondville defender and beating starter Daniel Moody under the pads.
Aquin wasn’t done there.
In the final minute of the first period, Islanders captain P.O. Joseph threw the puck up-ice to Getson who found a wide open Aquin at the side of the Drummondville net.
Aquin one-timed home the pass from Getson to give the Isles a 2-0 lead, scoring his second goal of the game, and his fourth of the season.
Heading into the first intermission the Islanders were outshot 10-9, but held a two goal lead after 20 minutes of action.
It didn’t take long for the Voltigeurs to answer back in the second period though.
Just 46 seconds into the period, left-winger Nathan Hudgin threw a shot on goal, which beat Lund-Cornish over the shoulder to cut into the Islanders lead.
The intensity of the game picked up in the second period, with both teams playing physical, dishing out several huge hits.
At the end of 40 minutes of action the Isles were outshot 22-14, but led on the scoreboard, 2-1.
The physical play only increased in the third period, with the Voltigeurs pushing for the tie and the gritty Islanders trying to hold on to their slim lead.
Halfway through the final regulation period, Islanders forward Adam Marsh dished out a huge hit, leading to a quick scrap with Drummondville forward Carl-Olivier Dignard.
Marsh landed several big shots with the right hand before scoring the takedown, ending the tilt.
In the closing minutes of the period, with the Drummondville net empty, the Voltigeurs were all over the Islanders, but Lund-Cornish stood tall, making several tremendous saves to keep the Isles in the lead.
As the buzzer sounded Lund-Cornish made one last big save to win the game for the Islanders.
Lund-Cornish received the first star of the game, stopping 37 of 38 shots, backstopping the Islanders to their 8th victory in their last 9 games, and sweeping all three games in their Quebec road trip.
With the win the Isles improve to 10-7-1 on the season, good for 9th in the QMJHL.
Islanders Head Coach Jim Hulton was thrilled with his team’s performance on Sunday.
“Today capped off a terrific road trip for our group. Lund-Cornish was outstanding in net and our penalty killing was extremely good in the crucial stages of the game.”
“We are thrilled to see hark work, grit and determination get rewarded.”
Up next for the Islanders is a Remembrance Day themed match-up with the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles on Wednesday, Nov.8 at the EastLink Centre in Charlottetown.
Puck-drop for that one is set of 7 pm and you can get tickets by calling the box office at 902-629-6625 or by visiting the EastLink Centre website at eastlinkcentrepei.com.