MOOSEHEADS SILENCE THE SCREAMING EAGLES 3-1
The Halifax Mooseheads started QMJHL Rivalry Week with a bang on Tuesday night in Cape Breton by skating to an impressive 3-1 road victory over the Screaming Eagles.
The Herd set the tone early by moving their feet, throwing hits and putting pressure on their opponents at every opportunity. Cavan Fitzgerald and Timo Meier combined for 10 hits in the game as the Mooseheads grinded out the win in the first of two meetings between the provincial foes this week.
Connor Moynihan opened the scoring when he fired in a rebound on the power play at 6:44 of the second period with Vince Watt and Arnaud Durandeau grabbing the assists.
Moynihan added the eventual game winner 11 minutes later on a highlight reel goal as he undressed the Cape Breton defenceman before scoring on the five-hole of Eagles goaltender Alexandre Belanger.
Otto Somppi and Taylor Ford were credited with the assists on Moynihan’s fourth tally of the season.
Halifax dominated the second period by controlling the majority of the play while Kevin Resop came up with some timely saves when needed. The 17-year-old American finished the night with 25 stops for the win, picking up the third star of the game in the process.
The only one to get by Resop was a one-timer from Detroit Red Wings draft pick Evgeny Svechnikov at 12:29 of the third period on the power play. The Russian was set up with a nice pass from Maxim Lazarev to break Resop’s shutout bid.
The Moose put the game on ice with 1:06 left on the clock when Andrew Shewfelt stepped out of the penalty box and stole the puck before firing it into an empty net from the Cape Breton blue line to make it 3-1 for the visitors.
Belanger earned the second star of the game with 30 saves and Moynihan skated away with first star honours.
With the victory Halifax improves its record to 5-8-1-1 and climbs to within two points of the Screaming Eagles who drop to 6-7-2-0.
The Mooseheads will return to home ice on Thursday night at 7pm as Rivalry Week continues at Scotiabank Centre when Connor Garland and the Moncton Wildcats come to town. Halifax will be looking to rebound from a tough 7-1 defeat at the Coliseum on Sunday.
The Herd will have a rematch with the Screaming Eagles on Friday night at 7pm as the club presents “East Night” at Scotiabank Centre. The first 7,000 fans will receive a special edition East Coast Lifestyle T-Shirt.
Tickets for the two Rivalry Week matchups at Scotiabank Centre are on sale now at the Ticket Atlantic Box Office at Scotiabank Centre, select Superstore Outlets, www.TicketAtlantic.com or by phone at 902-451-1221.
