Kielly scores in OT as power play leads way in Halifax
Kameron Kielly capped off the comeback in overtime as the Charlottetown Islanders picked up two points with a 3-2 victory over the Halifax Mooseheads on Saturday afternoon.
It is the third straight overtime game for the Islanders in which Kielly has provided the winning goal.
The power play led the way in Saturday’s game, going 3-for-5 on the night with all three Charlottetown goals coming on the man advantage.
The Isles keep the race going for home ice in the playoffs with the victory, their fifth straight.
Just like the previous night, the Islanders had to bounce back from a 2-0 deficit in Halifax.
Kelly Bent had the lone goal of the first period as he got behind the Charlottetown defence for a breakaway at the 13:49 mark.
In the second period, the Mooseheads doubled their lead while Andrew Smith was in the box, allowing Otto Somppi to get a puck past Mason McDonald.
But the Isles stayed with it and five minutes later, on a power play of their own, they made it a 2-1 game as Alexis Vanier blasted a shot from the blue line past Eric Brassard.
It looked as though Jake Coughler had made it a tie game just moments later, but despite being called a goal on the ice, the officials called goaltender interference and said it was no goal.
Nethertheless, the Isles kept their focus in the third and were rewarded as Samuel Blais managed to tie it up at 2 on the power play at 6:48. Brassard got a piece of the shot, but not enough.
That was all the scoring for regulation and when Jean-Sebastien Taillefer was sent to the box for slashing in OT, the Islanders took advantage with Kielly getting his 13th of the season midway through the bonus period.
Both goaltenders made 40 saves in net, with McDonald facing 42 and Brassard facing 43.
The Islanders have just one weekend of action left in the regular season as they return home next weekend to host Bathurst on Friday and Halifax on Saturday to close out the 2015-16 season. Big crowds are expected for each game and fans are encouraged to buy tickets in advance at the Eastlink Centre Box Office, by phone at (902) 629-6625, or online at www.eastlinkcentrepei.com.
