Welcome back Filip.
Filip Rydstrom scored the game winning goal with 4:26 left in the third period as the Charlottetown Islanders were 3-1 winners over the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles Saturday night at Eastlink Centre.
Rydstrom caused a turnover in the Eagles' end and took a pass from Bradley Kennedy and then was in one-on-one on Eagles goalie Miguel Sullivan.
"I deked right and left and it was an open net and I put it in," said Rydstrom on the goal.
Rydstrom described it as 'unreal' to return to the lineup and score the game's winning goal.
"I've been working hard just to come back and finally here. To score the game winning goal is a big bonus."
Islanders forward Kameron Kielly said Rydstrom’s return was story ending.
“He played great. He’s a big addition to our lineup and we gelled off it tonight.”
The Islanders move into the 9th overall spot in the standings with a 33-28-1-4 record. Cape Breton falls to 30-30-3-3 on the season.
The win is a huge two points, said Rydstrom.
“We’re close in the playoff hunt and we have a chance to jump up a couple of spots so we’re going to do everything we can to win our last two games of the year and see where it leads us.”
Charlottetown was coming off a 5-3 loss to the same Screaming Eagles team just less than 24 hours prior. Kielly said tonight’s game was full 60-minute effort from his club.
“Last night we showed we can play with them with our late charge but we took the second off last night but tonight was a full 60 minutes and like playoff hockey.”
Kielly opened the scoring at the 16:48 mark of the second period after the first period was scoreless.
Sprong made a highlight-reel pass to Kielly to bury his 16th goal of the season. Ryan MacKinnon also picked up an assist.
“I was kinda expecting it,” said Kielly on the pass made by Sprong. “I was kinda hoping I’d get it anyway. Ryan made a great play to Sprong and with a two-on-none I was fortunate enough to be the receiving end of it.”
In the third period, Evgeny Svechnikov’s 30th of the season tied the game one at 9:30. Maxim Lazarev and Jacob Smith drew assists.
Rydstrom’s goal marked his sixth of the season before Ross Johnston sealed the deal with an empty netter at 18:55. Spenser Cobbold and Dexter Weber drew assists on Johnston’s 15th of the season.
Mason McDonald made 36 saves to pick up his 28th win of the season, tying a franchise record for most wins by a goaltender in one season. Miguel Sullivan made 18 saves in the loss for Cape Breton.
The Islanders have two games left on its schedule before entering the playoffs. On Friday March 20, the Islanders host Saint John at 7 p.m. for the final home game of the regular season. Then, the Islanders will travel to Moncton on Saturday March 21 for a 4 p.m. tilt against the Wildcats to wrap up the 2014-15 regular season.
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