Milner stands tall in Sydney
2023-12-30
Goalie Jack Milner was outstanding between the pipes on Saturday in a 3-1 Mooseheads victory over the Eagles in Sydney, Cape Breton. The 18-year-old stopped 32 of the 33 shots he faced and had a shutout bid broken with just 1:45 remaining in regulation as Halifax grabbed a win in the first of back-to-back meetings against the Eagles to close out 2023.
Markus Vidicek scored twice, including an empty-net goal in the final minute while rookie Liam Kilfoil netted the game-winner with 5:17 to go in the contest. All of the scoring was done in the third period in a tight defensive battle. Halifax is set to play host to Cape Breton on Sunday afternoon at 2pm in a sold-out New Year’s Eve matinee at Scotiabank Centre where the Herd will look for another victory.
The Herd jumped in front 1-0 when Vidicek broke a scoreless tie 4:16 into the third period at Centre 200. He parked himself at the top of the crease and took the feed from Mathieu Cataford who had worked the puck along the boards behind the net. Peter Reynolds also earned an assist for his first point in a Mooseheads uniform. Kilfoil made it a 2-0 advantage later in the period with assists going to Dylan MacKinnon and Brady Schultz before Olivier Houde gave the home team some hope when he jammed one by Milner during a mad scramble around the net. Vidicek sealed the win in the closing moments by sending a backhand into the empty cage from centre ice.
Huge one from Liam Kilfoil late in regulation.
🚨 Kilfoil (6) 14:43 3rd period
🍎 Schultz, MacKinnon | #GoMooseGo pic.twitter.com/Yidt95Dst4— Halifax Mooseheads (@HFXMooseheads) December 30, 2023
The win improved Halifax’s record to 23-9-4-1 and gave the Moose points in their last four games and a five point advantage over the Moncton Wildcats for the Maritimes Division lead. The Cats were set to face Saint John later on Saturday night.
The Mooseheads were once again without five regulars including Jordan Dumais, Jake Furlong and Mathis Rousseau who are playing for Canada at the World Juniors in Sweden. Logan Crosby and Lou Levesque sat out with their respective injuries.
The Scotiabank Centre doors will open at 12:45 for Sunday’s meeting between Halifax and Cape Breton as the provincial foes get set to ring in the new year.
