MAMMOTH NIGHT FOR HISCHIER IN 6-4 WIN
The Nico show was in full effect on Wednesday night at Scotiabank Centre in the Mooseheads exciting 6-4 victory over the Acadie-Bathurst Titan. Nico Hischier, the sixth overall CHL Import pick, scored his first career hat trick and added three assists to run away with the first star selection.
“This win is good for us after we lost the last couple of games. It’s a really big win,” Hischier said outside the Mooseheads dressing room.
His 19 points not only leads the Mooseheads but is just two off the overall scoring lead in the QMJHL.
Special teams was the key to Halifax’s success in snapping a mini two-game losing skid as the team connected on three of their five chances with the man advantage while killing off the only two power plays handed to the Titan. Hischier scored one of his three goals with the extra attacker which turned out to be the game winner at 4:58 of the third period.
Defenceman Jocktan Chainey also had a breakout game with his first two goals of the season, both coming on the power play. The goals lifted a bit of a weight for the highly touted defenceman who has had a long road to full recovery after offseason shoulder surgery and is finally feeling 100 percent.
“Shoulders are pretty important in hockey,” he said.
“It was a pretty good feeling. The first time I’ve had two goals in this league.”
The Mooseheads dominated the first period and led 2-0 after 20 minutes on goals by Barrett Dachyshyn and Chainey while outshooting Acadie-Bathurst 17-7. Hischier notched his first of the night at 8:36 of the second but the Titan fought back a bit the middle stanza, scoring three times on Halifax starter Kevin Resop. Hischier found the back of the net again at 13:06 and the teams went to the room with the Herd on top 4-3 after 40.
Every time it seemed Bathurst was starting to climb back into the game the Mooseheads were able to separate themselves and Resop outduelled reigning CHL goaltender of the week Reilly Pickard as the Halifax netminder stopped 29 of 33 shots. Pickard wound up with 26 saves.
Hischier and Chainey scored back-to-back goals in the third period to give the Moose a comfortable lead and Cole Rafuse got one back for the Titan towards the end of the game. Other Bathurst goal scorers were third star Dawson Theede, Daniil Miromanov and Vladimir Kuznetsov.
Connor Moynihan chipped in with 3 assists to match Hischier in the helper department while Mathieu Charlebois, Bradley Kennedy, Max Fortier, Joel Bishop and Taylor Ford had the other assists to help improve the Mooseheads record to 7-7 on the season and keeping pace with Cape Breton for fourth in the Maritimes Division.
Caleb Rich wore number 11 as he played in his first game with the Moose. He mostly played center between Anthony Sorrentino and Ben Higgins. The game also marked the return of Brett Crossley to the lineup after being a bit banged up lately. He was forced to play defence with Cooper Jones a late scratch.
Jared McIsaac and Benoit-Olivier Groulx each missed the first of six games away from the team as they are with Hockey Canada to participate in the World Under 17 Hockey Challenge in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.
Halifax will embark on a home and home set with the provincial rival Screaming Eagles starting on Friday night in Sydney before returning to Scotiabank Centre on Saturday night at 7pm for a rematch.
Saturday’s game has been designated “Celebrate Local” night with the Mooseheads with close to 800 prizes being handed out by local businesses. There will also be special guest appearances by some of Nova Scotia’s recent Olympic athletes who competed in the Rio summer games.
Tickets are available now at the Ticket Atlantic Box Office at Scotiabank Centre, select Superstore Outlets, TicketAtlantic.com or by phone at 902-451-1221.
Halifax Mooseheads Full Season and 15-Game Ticket Packages for the 2016-17 season are on sale now. Get yours at the Mooseheads Season Ticket Office in Scotia Square Mall, by phone at 902-429-FANS(3267), OR by email at [email protected].
