Mar 2: Mooseheads vs. Huskies preview

HALIFAX MOOSEHEADS VS ROUYN-NORANDA HUSKIES
March 2, 2019 at 8:00pm
Arena Iamgold (3,500) ~ Rouyn-Noranda, QC
TV: Webcast | Radio: News 95.7 | Live: @HFXMooseheads 

The march to the playoffs has begun and even though most clubs have clinched their spot in the post-season, teams are still jockeying for positions. It's probably the biggest game of the season as your Halifax Mooseheads travel to Rouyn-Noranda and take on the Huskies tonight to begin a 5 game road trip. Rouyn-Noranda leads the QMJHL with 105 points and have won twenty-three straight games. Halifax will be looking to end that streak while continuing their own. The Herd have victories in their last eight games including 3 shutouts. Rouyn-Noranda has the top two goaltenders in the league with Samuel Harvey and Zachary Emond sitting 1st and 2nd in saves percentage and goals against average. Alex Gravel will have to be strong in net for his team to have a chance to get the victory tonight but either way it should be a good game and I'm sure Coach Vellieux is telling the boys to play a full 60 minutes as it seems like they haven't lately because they have been playing weaker teams. In their match on Wednesday, Halifax was penalized 3 times while they didn't draw any and in the end it cost them a shutout. The Mooseheads still have the best penalty kill in the league however. This is the last road trip for the Mooseheads during the regular season which will take them to two other Quebec cities plus Saint John and Moncton.

This is the second and final meeting between these two teams this season. Halifax is 0-1-0-0 against the Huskies while Rouyn-Noranda has a 1-0-0-0 record versus the Mooseheads. The last game was on January 13 in Halifax where the away team took a 5-4 victory, Keith Getson led the Mooseheads with a goal and assist while Alex Gravel stopped 33 of the Huskies shots for the loss.

Overall Records
Mooseheads: 45-12-2-1 = 93pts (3rd overall, 1st in Maritimes division)
Huskies: 52-7-0-1 = 105pts (1st overall, 1st in West division)

Leading Scorers
ROU: Peter Abbandonato 100pts (27G & 73A), Rafael Harvey-Pinard 75pts (34G & 41A), Alex Beaucage 73pts (36G & 37A)
HAL: Samuel Asselin 81pts (45G & 36A), Raphael Lavoie 71pts (32G & 39A), Antoine Morand 69pts (22G & 47A)

Previous Games
Halifax is coming off a 6-1 victory on Wednesday against the Titan at the Scotiabank Centre. Arnaud Durandeau had 2 goals and 2 assists to lead the Mooseheads while Alex Gravel made 17 saves to pick up the win versus Acadie-Bathurst.

Rouyn-Noranda extended their win streak to 23 on Friday night as they defeated Drummondville on home ice 6-1. Peter Abbandonato added to his best season with another 4 assists to lead the Huskies while Samuel Harvey stopped 36 of the Voltigeurs 37 shots he faced for the victory.

Head-to-Head
January 13. Huskies 5 at Mooseheads 4
March 2. 8pm  Mooseheads at Huskies

Out of Town
Val-d'Or vs. Drummondville - 4:30pm
Chicoutimi vs. Sherbrooke - 5:00pm
Acadie-Bathurst vs. Victoriaville - 7:00pm
Blainville-Boisbriand vs. Charlottetown - 8:00pm

After the Buzzer 
Halifax will continue on this road trip and head to Val-d'Or for a meeting with the Foreurs tomorrow evening. Puck drops at 5pm.