Late goal helps Moose earn a point vs Wildcats
2026-10-02
The Halifax Mooseheads and Moncton Wildcats met in another entertaining game on Friday night at the Avenir Centre as the teams have now gone to overtime in both of their early season matchups.
Mooseheads Captain Owen Phillips beat the buzzer in regulation by blasting home a shot right off the draw with just 2.4 seconds to play in the third period to help Halifax tie the game 3-3 and force the extra period. The jubilation was short-lived though as former Moose Liam Kilfoil quickly ended the game just 16 seconds into OT with an individual rush to win it for Moncton.
The victory ensured that the Wildcats remained the QMJHL’s only undefeated team with a 5-and-0 record to begin the year. Halifax has now been to overtime in four-of-their-five games and have posted a 2-1-2-0 record over that span for six points.
Carson Mertz made the start between the pipes for Halifax and was the third star of the game with 24 saves while also picking up his first career assist.
The Mooseheads held a 2-1 lead as late at the 9:53 mark of the third period but let it slip away by allowing back-to-back Moncton goals from Liam Bursaw and Niko Tournas just 1:15 apart. Tournas was the first star of the game with two goals and has now scored five times against the Herd in two games.
Captain Owen Phillips with some late game heroics 🚨#GoMooseGo | #ForTheCity pic.twitter.com/gB1G9pwBbo
— Halifax Mooseheads (@HFXMooseheads) October 3, 2026
Nathan Langlois opened the scoring in the game when the Mooseheads overage forward took a pass from Paul Sintschnig at the blueline and let a shot go from the top of the circle 8:16 into the contest. Malik L’Italien also had an assist on Langlois’ fourth goal of the season.
The Cats fought back with a Tournas power play marker for the only goal of the second period and the game was knotted 1-1 through 40 minutes.
Halifax regained the lead 6:17 into the third period when Mertz made a big save at one end which led directly to a beautiful rush from Oleg Kulebiakin who buried his first goal of the season at the other end. Mertz had the secondary assist on the tally while Mateo Nobert had the other after making a nice cross ice feed to spring Kulebiakin on the rush.
Moncton’s two straight goals had them in the driver’s seat going down the stretch as they switched into a defensive style of play. The Mooseheads kept pressing and pulled Mertz in favour of the extra attacker with a little less than two minutes to play. The came close a few times before Phillips eventually buried the tying tally to help salvage what otherwise would have been a disappointing outcome.
Halifax will take the point along with the positives that came from the outing and will move on to Saint John where they are set to meet the Sea Dogs on Sunday afternoon at 3pm at TD Station.
The next Mooseheads home games at Scotiabank Centre are scheduled for Thursday, October 8th (Student Night) at 7pm versus Rouyn-Noranda and Saturday, October 10th (Country Night) at 7pm versus Drummondville. Tickets are on sale now at Ticketmaster.ca.
