Herd Get 1st in East Despite SO Loss

The Halifax Mooseheads have clinched first overall in the Eastern conference despite losing 3-2 in a shootout against the Charlottetown Islanders on Saturday evening, a game that was shown on national television. With the point and a Baie-Comeau loss, Halifax tied the Drakkar in points at 102 but because the Mooseheads have more regulation and overtime wins, our boys got tie-breaker. The home town crowd were brought to their feet less than two minutes into the game, which began late because of a special pre-game ceremony to honour the Mooseheads 20-year-old players, by graduating forward Keith Getson. Halifax extended their lead at the 7:30 mark on a goal by Justin Barron, who picked up his 9th of the season. It was an emotional game for both teams as everyone in the QMJHL were fighting for playoff positions, as a result there was a number of roughing calls and scrums. Charlottetown's Hunter Drew had Samuel Asselin's number all game, spearing the Herd's over-ager at least once possibly twice and when the two were in the penalty boxes would not stop chirping in Sam's direction. The Islanders seem to wake up some and decide that they didn't want to end in a spot that would not give them home ice as they outshot Halifax 21-11 in the middle frame, while receiving goals from Drew and Nikita Alexandrov. In the third, it was a goaltender show forcing the game to head to overtime. Halifax had a few chances in the extra frame to get the second point but in the end, we would see a shootout for the second straight night. Matthew Welsh, a native of Halifax, stopped all three shots he faced and Daniel Hardie scored for the Islanders to give them the two points and 4th in the Eastern conference.

FINAL: Islanders 3 at Mooseheads 2 SO
Stars: 3. Keith Getson HAL | 2. Samuel Asselin HAL | 1. Jake Ryczek HAL
Attendance: 10,595
MC's Top Herd: Keith Getson

GAME LOG
First period 
1:54 HAL Keith Getson (29) | A: Ryczek & Dube
7:30 HAL Justin Barron (9) | A: Ryczek & Groulx

Second period
5:36 CHA Hunter Drew (16) | A: Johnston & Clavelle
16:02 CHA Nikita Alexandrov (27) | A: Hardie

Third period
None

Overtime
None

Shootout
HAL Arnaud Durandeau    Miss    CHA Daniel Hardie    Goal
HAL Samuel Asselin    Miss    CHA Brett Budgell    Miss
HAL BO Groulx    Miss

Powerplay: CHA - 0-for-3; HAL - 0-for-3
Shots: 34-33 in favour of Charlottetown

NOT DRESSED - Raphael Lavoie, Cole Stewart, Maxim Trepanier and Antoine Morand out with injuries

SCORES
Screaming Eagles 4 at Titan 2
Phoenix 2 at Voltigeurs 4
Sea Dogs 4 at Wildcats 6
Armada 3 at Huskies 5
Tigres 5 at Cataractes 4 OT
Olympiques 4 at Foreurs 6
Oceanic 4 at Drakkar 1
Sagueneens 6 at Remparts 4

UP NEXT - The playoffs start on Friday night at the Scotiabank Centre against the Quebec Remparts. Puck drops at 7pm.