Filip Rydstrom scored two goals and added three assists to lead the Charlottetown Islanders to an 8-2 thumping over the visiting Halifax Mooseheads Thursday night at Eastlink Centre.
The third line of Rydstrom, Ross Johnston (0-4) and Oliver Cooper (2-2) combined for 13 points and four of the team’s eight goals.
“It feels unreal,” said Rydstrom on his first career five-point game. “It’s a real nice feeling. To finally get something out of it playing with Ross and Cooper, I think we played good for a while and got credit for it now.”
Rydstrom becomes the third Islanders player to pick up five points in a singe game this season.
Cooper said the line kept it simple, which contributed to its success.
“We played our game, just tried to take the puck to the net and we were fortunate enough to get a couple of goals.”
Rydstrom said the line is big and goes out every shift to get better.
“We just tried to play well and the goals rolled in so that’s real nice.”
It is a big win heading into the Christmas break, said Cooper.
“Having a little bit of confidence and feeling good about ourselves. That’s what we wanted to do and we did it so we’re pretty happy right now.”
Cooper enjoyed a four-point game with a pair of goals and assists. He said it felt pretty good.
“I can’t remember the last time I had a four-point night…it’s finally a relief to have one of those games. Just happy we got the win.”
The Islanders head into the Christmas break with a 17-17-1-1 record. The Mooseheads fall to 17-15-2-1 on the season. Charlottetown also won its first game at home against Halifax since Sept. 13, 2013 - last season’s home opener.
Rydstrom opened the scoring with his fourth goal of the season at 5:56 with Johnston and Cooper drawing assists. Just 1:30 later, Bradley Kennedy gave the Islanders a 2-0 lead with his eighth tally of the season. Julien Avon drew the lone assist. Shots were 19-5 in favour of Charlottetown.
Cooper’s sixth goal of the season made it 3-0 Islanders at 7:15 of the second period. Rydstrom drew the lone assist. Cooper made it 4-0 with his second of the game and seventh of the season at 15:02. Johnston and Rydstrom drew assists.
Rydstrom finished off a nice pass from Cooper, taking the puck to the net and going to the back hand down low on Halifax goalie Kevin Resop for his fifth goal of the season and fourth point of the night at 19:43. Johnston drew the second assist.
Shots were 17-14 Islanders.
To start the third period, the Mooseheads replaced Resop with Christofer Langlais.
Daniel Sprong made it a 6-0 game just 3:17 into the frame with his 19th of the season. Alex Goulet and Zach McFadden drew assists.
The Mooseheads got themselves on the board with a power play marker from Danny Moynihan at 8:01 for his 16th of the season. Vincent Watt and Cavan Fitzgerald drew assists.
Just 58 seconds later, Goulet scored short-handed for his 19th goal of the season with Rydstrom drawing the lone assist.
On another power play, the Moosheads struck again with Brett Crossley scoring his second goal of the season at 15:38. Jordan King and Jesse Lussier drew assists.
The Islanders scored a power play goal of their own off the stick of Sprong for his second of the night at 20th of the season at 17:47. Johnston and Kennedy drew assists.
Mason McDonald made 29 saves in the win for Charlottetown. Resop took the loss stopping 31 of 36 shots. Langlais made 12 saves in the third period.
The Islanders are back in action Dec. 28 at home against Acadie-Bathurst when the team returns from Christmas break. Game time is 7 p.m.
Islanders Insights:
-Islanders were 1-for-2 on the power play, while going 3-for-5 on the penalty kill.
-Daniel Sprong lead the Islanders in shots with seven; all which were considered dangerous.
-Islanders out-hit the Mooseheads 18-16.
-Filip Rydstrom also posted a plus-five rating.
Islanders Country "Islander of the Game"
-Filip Rydstrom with two goals and three assists.
Three Stars:
3 - Ross Johnston, Charlottetown
2 - Oliver Cooper, Charlottetown
1 - Filip Rydstrom, Charlottetown
No comments:
Post a Comment