The Charlottetown Islanders dropped a 3-0 decision to the Halifax Mooseheads Sunday afternoon at Eastlink Centre.
Charlottetown drops to 8-9-1-1 on the season after losing its second straight game. The Mooseheads improve to 7-10-1-1 and pick up their third win in four games against the Islanders this season.
Islanders captain Ryan MacKinnon said it's a tough loss.
"We were on a good stretch and after these last two tough games, we were looking for a bounce back at home. Unfortunately, we couldn’t get the bounces we needed and didn’t start out on the right foot right off the bat and that’s going to cost you in this league.”
Islanders defenceman David Henley also described it as a tough loss.
“It wasn’t because we didn’t put (an) effort on the ice, it’s just hard to win every game…we have to keep going the same way and keep working hard and Tuesday night we’ll be ready for Moncton.”
MacKinnon said the team is starting to working on building its identity.
“We’re getting into the heart of the season and it’s tough going out and playing games like that when you come out on the wrong foot. You want to come out and play the way you want to and when it just doesn’t happen it’s definitely tough to swallow.”
The Mooseheads opened the scoring with Nikolaj Ehlers striking on the power play at the 15:46 mark of the first period. Matt Murphy and Austyn Hardie drew assists on Ehlers’ fifth goal of the season.
Shots after the first period were 18-3 in favour of Halifax.
“We came out flat,” said MacKinnon. “That’s all it is. Our first five minutes were good but after that, once things started to get tough, we started getting on our own page and that’s time you got to stick to the game plan.”
The Islanders took three minor penalties in the first period which MacKinnon said also hurt the Islanders.
“It’s just not tiring for the guys on the ice, it keeps our top guys not involved in the game. When you’re sitting on the bench for a while it’s tough to get back in it.”
The second period was scoreless and saw the Mooseheads outshoot the Islanders 11-9. Charlottetown failed to execute on a power play opportunity.
In the third period, Danny Moynihan buried his seventh of the season to give Halifax a 2-0 lead at the 5:45 mark. Ehlers and Timo Meier drew assists. Meier would cap off the scoring with an empty-net goal at 18:33 for his eighth of the season. Ehlers drew the lone assist.
Zachary Fucale made 20 saves to earn the shutout and the win for Halifax. Mason McDonald took the loss making 35 saves.
MacKinnon praised McDonald’s efforts in the loss.
“He’s a high-end goalie. You can’t give him enough compliments. He’s a guy that comes here and works hard every single day, seven days a week. You almost have to lock the doors just to keep the guy out of the rink. You can’t ask more for him.”
The Islanders will look to rebound on Tuesday when they host the Moncton Wildcats at 7 p.m.
Islanders Insights:
-Islanders out-hit the Mooseheads 8-2. Call-up Josh Shatford led the Islanders with two hits.
-Kameron Kielly was an excellent 11-for-15 on the faceOff. Filip Chlapik wasn’t too shabby either winning seven of 11 faceoffs taken.
-Islanders were 0-for-3 on the power play and 4-for-5 on the penalty kill.
-Attendance: 1,815
-Three Stars: 3 - Matt Murphy, Halifax; 2 - Mason McDonald, Charlottetown; 1 - Nikolaj Ehlers, Halifax.
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