Titan take early series lead with OT win in Game #1
2024-03-29
The Acadie-Bathurst Titan got out to an early series lead against the Mooseheads by scoring a 2-1 overtime victory in Game #1 on Friday night in Halifax. 6-foot-6 overage forward Milo Roelens buried the winning goal just 2:28 into the extra period for a 1-0 series advantage in the best-of-seven, first round matchup.
The game was a close affair thanks in part to excellent goaltending at both ends of the ice. Winning goalie Antoine Keller stopped 26 shots while Mathis Rousseau was more busy between the pipes for the Moose with 35 saves.
Much like the recent battles between these clubs, the Titan found ways to frustrate the offensive weapons for Halifax and limit the scoring chances against. Dylan Andrews gave the visitors a 1-0 lead in the opening period when he slid one in off a big rebound following a Bobby Orr shot on goal. That lead stood up until the late goings of the second period when the Mooseheads mounted some momentum which was capped off by Braeden MacPhee who deflected a puck in front of the net to tie the game at the 19:01 mark. MacPhee’s goal came in his first game back from an upper body injury that had kept him out since February 22nd. Jack Martin and Lou Levesque provided the assists on the goal.
Brae Mac bringing Moose Country to life in Game #1
🚨 MacPhee (1) 19:01 2nd period
🍎 Martin, Levesque | #GoMooseGo pic.twitter.com/U7On9H5xqC— Halifax Mooseheads (@HFXMooseheads) March 29, 2024
Neither team could light the lamp in the final period as Rousseau stole the show with 15 saves to force overtime, but the Roelens tally silenced a crowd of 8,176 aside from a handful of Titan faithful who voiced their pleasure with the result as the white and maroon jerseys flooded the ice in celebration.
Final shots were 37-27 in favour of Acadie-Bathurst while both teams went scoreless on their power play chances. Halifax was 0-3 and the Titan were 0-2.
Game #2 is set for Saturday night at 7pm at Scotiabank Centre where Halifax will look to bounce back and earn a split at home before venturing out on the road for Games #3 and #4 next week. Tickets are on sale now at Ticketmaster.ca