The Charlottetown Islanders built a 3-0 first period lead and hung on for a 4-2 win over divisional rival Saint John Sea Dogs Friday night at Eastlink Centre.
Islanders goalie Mason McDonald played a big part in helping the Islanders snap a three-game skid by making 50 saves only to earn second star honours.
“I was seeing the puck great tonight,” said McDonald. “I just felt good out there and even better to get the two points.”
It felt good to snap the losing streak, said McDonald.
“The last few games haven’t been the type of games we wanted to play. We haven’t been playing our best.”
Islanders forward Oliver Cooper said it is a relief to snap the losing streak.
“You never like losing three games in a row but sometimes that happens and it’s just how you respond and bounce back.”
The 19-year-old, Fredericton, N.B., native was named the game’s third star with a goal and an assist.
The Islanders improve to 28-24-1-3 on the season. Saint John falls to 28-20-3-6.
Cooper said the two points are huge.
“We are right behind Saint John in the standings. Those are definitely the points you want to be able to grab.”
Charlottetown was quick to open the scoring with a power play goal just 1:39 into the contest off the stick of Bradley Kennedy on a scramble in front of the Saint John net. Alexandre Goulet and Filip Chlapik were given assists on Kennedy’s 11th of the season.
Ross Johnston gave the Islanders a 2-0 lead at 5:36 as he re-directed a Guillaume Rioux-Legault point shot past Sea Dogs goalie Sebastien Auger for his ninth of the season. Ryan MacKinnon drew the second assist.
Cooper made it 3-0 at 12:23 on a great individual, one-on-five effort for his 14th goal of the season. Will Thompson and Quinn O’Brien drew assists.
The former Sea Dog said it feels extra special to score against his former team.
“It’s just anything to try and help the team win.”
Cooper spent three season with Saint John from 2011-2014.
Saint John had a 16-13 edge in shots through 20 minutes.
In the second period, Nathan Noel put the Sea Dogs on the board with his 21st of the season at 8:48. Spencer Smallman drew the lone assist.
Saint John made it a 3-2 game at 15:07 with Smallman’s 20th of the season. Thomas Chabot and Mark Tremaine drew assists.
The Islanders responded just 1:08 later with Filip Chlapik scoring his 26th of the season. Cooper and Daniel Sprong drew assists.
Shots were 23-12 in favour of the Sea Dogs.
The third period was scoreless but entertained with a fight between Islanders’ David Henley and Saint John’s Samuel Dove-McFalls after Henley caught him with an open ice hit just seconds prior. Saint John had a 13-9 edge in shots.
McDonald picked up his 24th win of the season in his 47th game. Auger took the loss for Saint John making 30 saves.
The Islanders host the Halifax Mooseheads tomorrow at 7 p.m. Halifax and Charlottetown have been neck-and-neck for the third overall spot in the Maritimes Division.
“We just got to shut down (Nikolaj) Ehlers’ point streak,” said McDonald. “Him and (Timo) Meier have been doing pretty well and that’s definitely one of my goals tomorrow is to shut them down and put an end to that.”
No comments:
Post a Comment