Penalties bite Islanders in 5-1 loss in Moncton

Penalties cost the Charlottetown Islanders in a 5-1 loss to the Moncton Wildcats Sunday afternoon at the Moncton Coliseum.

The Wildcats scored three power play goals, including a pair in the first period.

Charlottetown Islanders forward Oliver Cooper described the loss as tough.

“We didn’t play the game we wanted to and didn’t stick to the game plan and that’s what happens.”

The Islanders have lost two straight games and are now 14-14-1-1 on the season. It is also the team’s fourth consecutive loss to the Wildcats this season.

“We give them too many opportunities, we give them too much space to their skilled guys,” said the 19-year-old veteran Cooper. “When you do that with skilled guys they’re going to capitalize. We have to learn to play a little harder on them and give them a little less space and little less time with the puck to make plays.”

2015 NHL Entry Draft: Daniel Sprong profile

By: Nathan A'Hearn
Follow: TheTermiNathan

Darrell Theriault phot.

Daniel Sprong

Ht/Wt: 5'11"/175 lbs
Position: RW
Team: Charlottetown (QMJHL)

Learn About Daniel Sprong's Story Chance Of A Lifetime Article by Mikael Filion

Hear PK Subban's Endorsement

Sportsnet's Article on Sprong

Yahoo Sports Draft Tracker

Statistics

2013-2014
GP: 67 G: 30 A: 38 Pts: 68 SH% 11.5 PPG 9

2014-2015
GP: 29 G: 15 A: 17 Pts: 32 SH% 13.6 PPG 5

Pace To Date:
GP: 68 G: 36 A: 39 Pts: 75 PPG 12

21 Points in last 15 games

Scout Insights (As of November 28th 2014):

NHL CSS: A (First Round Potential)

Craig Button: 7th Overall

Future Considerations: 14th

Hockey Prospects: 13th

ISS: 18th

Sportsnet: 16th

The Hockey News: 10th

McKeens: 28th

The Hockey Writers: 7th

Summary: Top 10: 2  Top 15: 2 Top 20: 2 Top 30: 1

Audette's late goal burns Islanders

Daniel Audette scored with 15 seconds remaining in regulation as the Sherbrooke Phoenix took a 3-2 come-from-behind victory over the Charlottetown Islanders Friday night at Eastlink Centre.

The goal all started from a face-off win by Phoenix forward Raphael Lafontaine, said Audette.

"I just went to the net and it turned out right in front of my stick and I just put it in."

The win improves the Phoenix to 15-9-0-2. The Islanders drop to 14-13-1-1 on the season.

Islanders forward Ross Johnston said the late goal hurts.

"We didn't lose the game in the last 15 seconds. I thought coming out for the third, even the second, we were too flat...we should have taken advantage of it earlier."

Sherbrooke battled back from a 2-0 deficit in the second period.

Game day: Phoenix @ Islanders

Date: Friday Nov. 28, 2014

Match: Sherbrooke Phoenix @ Charlottetown Islanders

Where: Eastlink Centre, Charlottetown, P.E.I.

Time: 7 p.m.

TV: Webcast

Live Tweets: IslesLive

Pre-game stats:

Last meeting this season:	No previous meetings
Next game between two teams:	Jan. 16 in Sherbrooke
Head-to-head record this season:	No previous meetings
Head-to-head record for 2013-14:	Sherbrooke 2-0-0-0, Charlottetown 0-1-0-1
Last 5 years between teams:	Charlottetown 2-1-0-1, Sherbrooke 2-1-0-1
Last 5 years at Charlottetown:	Charlottetown 1-0-0-1, Sherbrooke 1-1-0-0

Regular Season Stats	Sherbrooke Phoenix	Charlottetown Islanders
Record	14-9-0-2	14-12-1-1
Points	30	30
Standing	4th West/10th QMJHL	3rd Maritimes/8th QMJHL
Goals For	91	90
Goals Against	84	101
Last 10 games	3-5-0-2	6-4-0-0
Streak	0-2-0-2	1-0-0-0
Last game	Nov. 26, 4-3 SOL @ Cape Breton	Nov. 27, 6-5 W vs Saint John
Home record	9-4-0-0	8-6-1-0
Road record	5-5-0-2	6-6-0-1
Record scoring first	10-1-0-0	10-2-0-0
Giving up first goal	4-8-0-2	4-10-1-1
Power play	7th - 32/140, 22.9 %	11th - 26/130, 20.0 %
Penalty kill	12th - 71/92, 77.2 %	9th - 98/125, 78.4 %
Points Leader	Tim Wieser (23-13-36)	Filip Chlapik (15-21-36)
Goals Leader	Tim Wieser - 13 G Daniel Audette - 13 G	Filip Chlapik - 15 G Daniel Sprong - 15 G
Assists Leader	Kay Schweri - 30 A	Filip Chlapik - 21 A
PIM Leader	Mikael Sabourin - 43 PIM	Spenser Cobbold - 61 PIM
Rookie Leader	Kay Schweri (6-30-36)	Filip Chlapik (15-21-36)
Goalie, Best GAA	Evan Fitzpatrick - 2.93 GAA	Mason McDonald - 3.03 GAA
Goalie, Best Save %	Alex Bureau - 0.891 Save %	Mason McDonald - 0.906 Save %

Filip Chlapik invited to Czech Republic Under-20 WJC training camp

Filip Chlapik scores a shootout goal on Sept. 12, 2013. Darrell Theriault photo.

Charlottetown Islanders forward Filip Chlapik has been invited to training camp for the Czech Republic Men’s Under-20 team at the 2015 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship.

A source confirmed the news yesterday.

Chlapik, 17, is currently in his first QMJHL season with the Islanders and leads the team in scoring with 15 goals and 36 points in 28 games. He will leave for the Czech Republic on Dec. 6 where their camp opens up on Dec. 12.

Islanders steal win from Sea Dogs

It was a game the Saint John Sea Dogs let slip away.

Charlottetown Islanders forward Alexandre Goulet scored the game winning goal with 2:09 left in the third period to add to a five-point night as the Charlottetown Islanders took a 6-5 decision over the visiting Sea Dogs Thursday night at Eastlink Centre.

The Islanders trailed 2-0 after the first period and 4-2 going into the third period.

The team battled hard in the third period, said Goulet.

“We showed some character and it was a huge win for our club tonight.”

Putting pucks on net was key to the team’s comeback, said Goulet.

“Playing hard in our zone and I think that was our success for tonight.”

It felt good to pick up five points, said Goulet.

“It couldn’t do it without my teammates. We are playing good together, Me and (Filip) Chlapik and Bradley (Kennedy). It’s a team effort.”

Islanders forward Filip Chlapik, who was named the game’s second star with two goals and two assists, said the team had a slow start.

“The first period was terrible by us. After we say something in the locker room we started going and sticking to our system and it was better and better and a nice win for us.”

The Islanders improve to 14-12-1-1 on the season as the Sea Dogs fall to 15-6-1-3.

Game day: Sea Dogs @ Islanders

Date: Thursday Nov. 27, 2014

Match: Saint John Sea Dogs @ Charlottetown Islanders

Where: Eastlink Centre, Charlottetown, P.E.I.

Time: 7 p.m.

TV: Webcast

Live Tweets: IslesLive

The Saint John Sea Dogs will make their second visit of the season to the Eastlink Centre tonight, for the fifth meeting of the season between the two teams.

Charlottetown is coming off a brutal 8-2 loss at home to Rimouski on Sunday which saw their four-game winning streak come to an end. Prior to Sunday, the Islanders beat the Sea Dogs 3-2 in overtime on Saturday in Saint John.

Saint John has surprised many this season, taking reigns of first place in the Maritimes Division with a solid 15-5-1-3 record for 34 points. They have had depth scoring and solid goaltending from Sebastien Auger.

The Islanders on the other hand, who were expected to contend for top spot in the Maritimes Division, sees itself with a sub-par record of 13-12-1-1 for 28 points. Filip Chlapik and Daniel Sprong have been leading the offense and goalie Mason McDonald has given them the chance to win games.

Charlottetown Islanders Weekly wrap-up: Saint John and Rimouski

By Nathan A'Hearn

Our favourite Islanders looked to build on the four-game win streak they had going into this game. They had to earn every point. The Isles went up with two goals early in the game but Saint John did not let up an inch scoring two quick ones just 28 seconds apart. Charlottetown was able to hold off in the third to score the eventual winner in overtime.  Mason McDonald looked sharp with 31 saves and the Isles had goals from Luc Deschenes, Oliver Cooper and Spenser Cobbold (OT).  A big win, 65 minute effort versus the divisional leaders.

The drive for five wins in a row arrived in Charlottetown for a game against the Q's best. Looking at the shot chart (31-28 Charlottetown) you may think that this may have been an even scoring game. Unfortunately, the Islanders were the victim of an Oceanic team who were beaten embarrassingly the night before in Halifax and were looking to bounce back.  Rimouski was the benefactor of some good bounces but that is not to diminish their effort.  They played very strongly and looked like a top notch team. Surprisingly two Islanders were plus ratings at the end of the night.  Sprong was a plus-two and Kielly was a plus-one.

Oceanic dominates Islanders with 8-2 win

Christopher Clapperton scored a hat-trick and Alexis Loiseau picked up four points as the visiting Rimouski Oceanic handed the Charlottetown Islanders an 8-2 loss Sunday evening at Eastlink Centre.

The Oceanic improves to 18-7-1-1 on the season after losing 8-2 in Halifax less than 24 hours before the game.

“We just wanted to bounce back,” said Clapperton who was named the game’s first star. “We had a good meeting before the game and we’re very happy right now.”

Clapperton’s hat-trick was the second of the season. He was happy to get it.

“I’m a veteran so I need to lead by example and I had good game tonight so I’m happy.”

For the Islanders, the loss snaps a four-game winning streak and are now 13-12-1-1 on the season.

Game day: Oceanic @ Islanders

Date: Sunday Nov. 23, 2014

Match: Rimouski Oceanic @ Charlottetown Islanders

Where: Eastlink Centre, Charlottetown, P.E.I.

Time: 3 p.m.

TV: Webcast

Live Tweets: IslesLive

Pre-game stats:

Last meeting this season:	No previous meetings
Next game between two teams:	Dec. 14 in Rimouski
Head-to-head record this season:	No previous meetings
Head-to-head record for 2013-14:	Rimouski 2-0-0-0, Charlottetown 0-2-0-0
Last 5 years between teams:	Rimouski 6-4-0-0, Charlottetown 4-5-0-1
Last 5 years at Charlottetown:	Charlottetown 3-2-0-0, Rimouski 2-3-0-0

Cobbold plays OT hero as Islanders keep streak alive with win over Sea Dogs

Spenser Cobbold scored at 3:08 of overtime to lift the Charlottetown Islanders to a 3-2 win over the Saint John Sea Dogs Saturday night at Harbour Station.

The Islanders are on a roll with their fourth-straight win and improve to 13-11-1-1 on the season. The Sea Dogs fall to 15-5-1-3 on the season.

The last time the Islanders won four games in a row was back at the beginning of last season when the Islanders started 5-0-0-0.

Game day: Islanders @ Sea Dogs

Date: Saturday Nov. 22, 2014

Match: Charlottetown Islanders @ Saint John Sea Dogs

Where: Harbour Station, Saint John, N.B.

Time:7 p.m.

TV: Webcast

Live Tweets: No Live Tweets

Pre-game stats:

Last meeting this season:	Oct. 12, CHA 1 @ SNB 4
Next game between two teams:	Nov. 27 in Charlottetown
Head-to-head record this season:	Saint John 2-0-0-1, Charlottetown 1-1-0-1
Head-to-head record for 2013-14:	Charlottetown 5-3-0-1, Saint John 4-4-0-1
Last 5 years between teams:	Saint John 21-12-0-3, Charlottetown 15-17-1-3
Last 5 years at Charlottetown:	Charlottetown 9-8-0-0, Saint John 8-8-0-1
Last 5 years at Saint John:	Saint John 13-4-0-2, Charlottetown 6-9-1-3

Webcast pricing details released

Prices for the online webcasts have been released. Videotron and Rogers will offer fans the chance to follow their favourite teams during regular season and playoffs.

There are seven packages available.

Single live games will cost $6.99. A five-game package is available and will cost $29.99, which comes out to $6 per game. A 10-game pack is available for $54.99, which comes out to $5.50 per game.

Ex-Rocket Nestrasil claimed off waivers by Carolina

Former P.E.I. Rocket forward Andrej Nestrasil was claimed off waivers by the Carolina Hurricanes today.

The 23-year-old was placed on waivers by the Detroit Red Wings yesterday. In 13 games, Nestrasil picked up two assists and a minus-three rating.

Handfull of Islanders named to CSS Prelimary 2015 November Players to Watch list

Daniel Sprong. Charlottetown Islanders photo.

Five Charlottetown Islanders players have been named to the CSS Preliminary 2015 November Players to Watch list.

Central Scouting Services released the list today.

Filip Chlapik and Daniel Sprong were given an A rating, which indicates first-round candidates. Chlapik leads the Islanders in scoring with 13 goals and 32 points in 25 games in his rookie season. Sprong is second in team scoring with 13 goals and and 29 points in 25 games.

Charlottetown Islanders Weekend wrap-up and analysis

By Nathan A'Hearn

The Charlottetown Islanders returned home after a three-game road trip to take two games at home versus Victoriaville and Drummondville.

First lets analyze Game One



In my preview, I pointed out that Victoriaville usually lets their goalies face a ton of shots and had an exceptional penalty kill.  Both of those were adamant in this game with the Islanders' getting their shots earlier and the Tigres going 5-for-five on the penalty kill.  The Islanders also went 3-for-3 on their penalty kill meaning that this game was left to 5-on-5 play.  Charlottetown was able to shoot at will in the early going and went shot-for-shot with the Tigres to see which goalie would break first.  McDonald and Marchand both put on spectacular performances this evening. But it was Daniel Sprong with the Isle's lone two goals which was enough to win.  2-1.

SHOTS	1	2	3	Total
Victoriaville	8	11	10	29
Charlottetown	21	10	11	42

Game Two

SHOTS	1	2	3	Total
Drummondville	9	8	7	24
Charlottetown	10	7	19	36

Charlottetown appears to have to have the Voltiguers number this season, or at least in the past week, with a combined goal differential of 13-5.  The Voltiguers were not able to keep their penalty kill in check allowing two power play goals on four chances and were Filip Chlapik's victim with a five-point performance.

Weekend Thoughts

There are many reasons to attribute to the Islanders' success this past weekend.  There were no lucky bounces but a full 60 minute effort.  In both games they were able to attack early which is not typical of the team we saw a month ago.  Personally, I think what the most important aspect is the Islanders' ability to not let up in the third period.  They were able to compete or dictate for an entire 60 minutes.  It also helps when your penalty kill goes 8-for-9 and goaltender Mason McDonald is the League's Third Star Of The Week. A lot of things are clicking right now and you have to believe there is a competitive environment on this team as NHL Draft Eligible David Henley, World Under-17's returnee Guibault and recently signed Chris Chaddock scratched the past two nights.  None of these young players want to sit.

Weekend Statistical Analysis

Shot Differential (Thanks to everyone staying patient while I still experiment with excel)

Tigres

Voltiguers

Pac-Man anyone?

PDO

Tigres

Voltiguers

Note: I have not yet introduced PDO to the readers of Islanders Country but I plan on making a similar article to my Shot Analysis.  In short it is a team's "On Ice Shooting Percentage" plus the "On Ice Save Percentage".  A PDO of 1 is average and each digit above increases your chances of winning one particular game and vice versa.

Fucale shines in QMJHL 3-1 win over Russia

Vincent Ethier photo.

Zachary Fucale made 40 saves, including 22 in the third period, to help the QMJHL beat Team Russia 3-1 in the fifth game of the Subway Super Series at the K.C. Irving Regional Centre in Bathurst, N.B. Tuesday night.

“It feels really good,” said the Halifax Mooseheads goaltender. “I think the guys did a great job of blocking shots out there tonight and eliminating chances as much as we could and I think it was a great team performance.”

Daniel Audette, representing the QMJHL from the Sherbrooke Phoenix, said Fucale was amazing.

“He’s always a goalie that comes out on big occasions and just showed it again tonight.”

Audette finished the game with a goal and an assist.

Leading 3-1, the QMJHL was outshot 22-1 in the third period and had to kill of four minor penalties.

Fucale said they took too many penalties and will have to adjust for the QMJHL’s next game.

“I really think the young guys stepped up, not just the young guys, but everyone stepped up.”

The CHL now trails the Super Series 8-7 in points.

Audette said the QMJHL had a great start but took too many penalties.

“We’re going to have to take care of that.”

Fucale said the Russian team is very, very good this year.

“Every time they come over it’s always a very competitive game and there’s no surprise there. We knew that they’re very skilled, very strong team being very big. It was a good battle, lots of fun and I think Thursday is going to be another great game.”

The QMJHL opened the scoring at the 6:43 mark with a power play marker from Francis Perron on the team’s second shot on goal. Audette and Alexandre Carrier drew assists.

The lead was increased to 2-0 with Audette scoring on the QMJHL’s fourth shot of the game at 11:53 going glove side over Russian goalie Igor Shestyorkin. Laurent Dauphin and Anthony DeLuca drew assists.

“Big play by Dauphin and DeLuca to get the puck out of the zone,” said Audette on his goal. “Came in one-on-one with the defence and tried to put it on net and it went in. I was happy.”

Russia held a 11-9 shot advantage.

In the second period, QMJHL took a 3-0 lead at 5:33 with a goal from Anthony Richard. DeLuca and Joey Ratelle drew assists.

Russia made it a two-goal game at 14:08 with a one-timer from Dmitry Yudin. Vycheslav Leschenko and Ivan Fishchenko drew assists. Shots were 8-8.

Fucale was named player of the game for QMJHL after making 40 saves, with over half of them coming in the third period. Shestyorkin took the loss for Russia making 15 saves.

The final game of the Subway Super Series goes Thursday night in Rimouski, Que.

McDonald named QMJHL's third star of the week

Photo by Darrell Theriault.

Charlottetown Islanders goaltender Mason McDonald was named the third star of the week, the QMJHL announced today.

The week is the period for Nov. 10-16.

The 18-year-old, Halifax, N.S. native helped the Islanders pick up two wins over the weekend, allowing two goals for a 1.00 goals against average and a 0.962 save percentage.