Rocket vs Olympiques
By Nolan Reid
The Gatineau Olympiques took an early two-goal lead and didn’t look back as the P.E.I. Rocket fell 4-2 to the Olympiques Friday night at the Civic Centre.
The loss snaps the Rocket’s three-game winning streak and drops the Rocket to 24-16-2-0 on the season.
“It was a tough loss,” said Rocket defenseman Anthony Cortese. “We just got to bounce back tomorrow and get at ‘er in Halifax.”
Cortese played against his former team the first time since being acquired by the Rocket from Gatineau during the trade period.
“A little few smiles but that’s the game, you know. Nothing changed,” he said.
Taylor Burke scored twice for Gatineau in the first period to give the Olympiques a 2-0 lead. The second goal came while the Rocket was on the power play.
The shorthanded goal by Gatineau did take away some momentum from the Rocket, said Cortese.
“But every goal takes away momentum. You just got to try and bounce back from it.”
In the second period, Matt Bursey got the Rocket on the board with his sixth of the season at 3:42. Ryan Graves and Nathan Yetman drew the assists. The Olympiques responded back, making it a 3-1 lead with a goal from Tomas Hyka at 14:38.
Gatineau increased their lead to 4-1 with a goal from Simon Tardif-Richard at 14:38 of the third period. The Rocket responded moments later with Alexi Pépin’s 11th of the season at 19:27, but it was too little too late for the Rocket.
Antoine Bibeau took the loss in goal for the Rocket making 23 saves.
Robert Steeves picked up the win for Gatineau stopping 35 shots.
The Rocket travels to Halifax to battle the Mooseheads at 7PM. Rocket is back at home on Thursday Jan. 31 against the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles.
