Islanders steal one from Milner & the Mooseheads
2023-12-28
Goalie Jack Milner gave the Mooseheads a terrific effort on home ice in front of 9,215 fans at Scotiabank Centre on Thursday night, but it was the Charlottetown Islanders who went home happy after a 2-1 shootout victory.
Halifax’s 18-year-old netminder made 31 saves through regulation and overtime but allowed the only goal of the shootout to forward Alexis Michaud in the first game since the QMJHL’s holiday break. Markus Vidicek scored his 24th of the season in the first period and Charlottetown’s Simon Hughes struck on a second period power play to complete the limited scoring in the game.
Carter Bickle was named the first star of the game with 33 saves plus an additional three stops in the shootout as he denied Mathieu Cataford, Markus Vidicek and newcomer Peter Reynolds.
Reynolds appeared in his first game as a member of the Mooseheads since being acquired in a December 23rd trade from the Saint John Sea Dogs. He played on the top line alongside Vidicek and Cataford. He finished with three shots on goal and was a +1.
Dylan MacKinnon had a great pass to earn an assist on the Vidicek tally while Cataford was also credited with an assist on the play.
Not the result Peter Reynolds wanted in his debut but he’s looking forward to a great stretch drive in Halifax. #GoMooseGo pic.twitter.com/GEpiAkS6lv
— Halifax Mooseheads (@HFXMooseheads) December 29, 2023
The Moose had call-ups Liam Welsh and Aidan Bent in the lineup while Sam Madgett was on the bench as the backup for Milner. Jordan Dumais, Jake Furlong and Mathis Rousseau are participating in the World Junior Hockey Championships with Canada. Jake Todd missed the game with a lower body injury and is listed as day-to-day. Logan Crosby and Lou Levesque were out again with their respective injuries, although Crosby is nearing a return.
Next up for Halifax is a road game on Saturday afternoon at 3pm in Cape Breton. The Mooseheads and Eagles will play a rematch on Sunday in a New Year’s Eve matinee at 2m at Scotiabank Centre. Tickets are on sale now at Ticketmaster.ca.
