Mooseheads flip the script in Sherbrooke
2023-05-05
It’s a brand new series in the QMJHL Semi-Final battle between the Sherbrooke Phoenix and your Halifax Mooseheads following a second consecutive 5-2 road victory by the Herd to even the series at two games apiece.
Mathis Rousseau was rock solid between the pipes yet again, while Owen Phillips set a Mooseheads rookie record for assists by a defenceman in a playoff game with three to help the team regain home ice advantage with Game 5 coming up Saturday afternoon at 2pm at Scotiabank Centre.
The Mooseheads played smothering defense and capitalized on their chances early to build up a comfortable lead while stunning the majority of the fans inside the Palais des Sports – Leopold Drolet, save for one large cheering section of pro-Halifax supporters. Mathieu Cataford poked in a shorthanded goal 12:16 into the contest to open the scoring after some great work behind the net by Markus Vidicek to free the puck and get it to the front of the crease on the penalty kill. Captain Attilio Biasca doubled the lead about four minutes later with a rip on the power play that beat goalie Olivier Adam. The Mooseheads scored two more in the middle period as the excellent special teams play continued with Evan Boucher notching a power play tally at the 5:41 mark. Then it was hometown Sherbrooke forward Alex Doucet with the first of his two goals in the game when he followed up a huge breakaway save by Rousseau by making it a 4-0 lead as the puck came back down to the other end of the ice.
Wooo! How about this one Moose Country?
???? Biasca (4) PP 16:29 1st period
???? Cataford, Phillips pic.twitter.com/fbz3gcTlbt— Halifax Mooseheads (@HFXMooseheads) May 4, 2023
Sherbrooke poured on the pressure in the third period as expected and managed a pair of goals off the sticks of Josh Roy and Tyson Hinds. Halifax bent a bit, but did not break thanks to some monster minutes by the defencemen, notably Jake Furlong who has been a warrior in this series. Doucet sealed the victory with an empty net goal in the final seconds of action. Rousseau finished with 32 saves to earn the third star and outdueled counterpart Olivier Adam who made 23 saves on 27 shots. Phillips took second star honours thanks to his trio of assists and Cataford was the first star with one goal and one assist.
The home team has yet to win a game in this series after the Phoenix grabbed the first two games in Halifax last weekend before the Herd took both games in Sherbrooke to change the complexion of the Semi-Final matchup.
Braeden MacPhee made his return to the lineup in Game 4 following the death of his mother. MacPhee was instantly engaged on the ice and played his agitator role to perfection. The rugged winger also had a pair of great scoring opportunities, including a breakaway chance early in the second period that was stopped by Adam. Halifax once again played without star forward Jordan Dumais who missed his second straight game with an upper body injury. He remains out indefinitely.
The stage is now set for a Saturday afternoon showdown at Scotiabank Centre where the Mooseheads will host the Phoenix with puck drop at an earlier time than usual at 2pm. The afternoon start time is necessary to give the teams ample travel time on the league charter flight as Sherbrooke will host Game 6 on Sunday at 6pm.
Tickets for Saturday’s huge Game 5 are on sale now at TicketAtlantic.com.