Moose Win Home Opener

For the first time since 2011, your Halifax Mooseheads have won a home opener. With 7 players out of the lineup the Saint John Sea Dogs just didn't have the fire power to get their first win of the season. The Mooseheads on the other hand got scoring from one of their youngest players as rookie and top overall pick Benoit-Olivier Groulx recorded his first two goals of the season. The night began with the usual home opening pre-game ceremony stuff with the team announcement and a nice moment of silence to remember former captain Dean Stock who passed on Friday. Despite both teams being without their agitators (Kelly Bent for Halifax as aged out while Bokondji Imama is at NHL camp), there was still hatred between the two Maritimes division rivals. Halifax got off to a fast start, scoring a goal 53 seconds into the game, and than with 9 minutes gone a fight broke out that shortened the bench by a few players. The last 40 minutes were less penalized and quicker with a flurry of shots in the last 3 minutes by Saint John. Overall it was an interesting game and gave fans a good look at what is to come.

FINAL: Sea Dogs 3 at Mooseheads 4
Stars: 3. Matthew Highmore SNB | 2. Nico Hischier HAL | 1. Benoit-Olivier Groulx HAL
Attendance: 7,010
MC’s Top Herd: Benoit-Olivier Groulx

GAME LOG
First period
0:53 HAL Cooper Jones (1) | A: Moynihan & Sorrentino
12:51  SNB John Warren (1), PP | A: Veleno & Del Paggio
13:10 SNB Gabriel Bettez (1), PP | A: M. Green & Stewart
14:02 HAL Benoit-Oliver Groulx (1), PP | A: Hischer & Fortier

Second period
11:33 HAL Arnaud Duranuad (2) | A: Ford & Flower

Third period13:53 HAL Benoit-Oliver Groulx (2) | A: Bishop
16:58 SNB Matthew Highmore (2), PP | A: Del Paggio & Bernier

Powerplay: SNB - 3-for-9, HAL - 1-for-7
Shots: 36-27 in favour of the Sea Dogs

SCORESDrakkar 1 at Oceanic 2
Cataracts 2 at Sagueneens 3
Screaming Eagles 1 at Titan 3
Foreurs 5 at Phoenix 4

UP NEXT: Halifax will welcome the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles a week from now at the Scotiabank Centre. Puck drops at 7pm.