Game Day 5: vs. Shawinigan

PREVIEW - For the first time since March 6, 2020 our Halifax Mooseheads will be playing a Quebec-based team tonight as the Shawinigan Cataractes come to town for a Friday night match. Halifax picked up a big win last Saturday when the defeated the Charlottetown Islanders on home ice and they will be looking to take that momentum into this evening's game. Shawinigan boasts a similar record to the Mooseheads early in the season but could be more lethal now that they have all three NHL prospects in their lineup. Forward Mavrik Bourque made his season debut on Wednesday in Sydney after the Dallas Stars kept him in training camp for a lengthy time. The Cataractes also have Buffalo Sabres' 2021 pick Olivier Nadeau and Xavier Bourgault who was drafted by the Edmonton Oilers in the 1st round of the same draft. All three forwards led Shawinigan in scoring during the 2020-21 season with a combined total of 128 points. With Elliot Desnoyers and Zachary L'Heureux back in the lineup for Halifax, the Herd will hopefully get some offence going and they need it as they are currently 16th overall in goals scored. This evening's game is fridge magnet giveaway night so the first 3,000 fans will receive a 2021-22 fridge magnet schedule. 

Game coverage
TV: Eastlink | Radio: News 95.7 | Live: @MC_MooseCountry | Post-game: Halifax Mooseheads

Overall records
Cataractes: 2-1-0-2 = 6 points (2nd in Central division, 8th overall)
Mooseheads: 2-1-0-1 = 5 points (3rd in Maritimes division, 9th overall)

Leading scorers
HAL: Mathieu Cataford 3pts (1G & 2A), Jordan Dumais 3pts (1G & 2A), Senna Peeters 3pts (3A)
SHA: Olivier Nadeau 6pts (4G & 2A), Xavier Bourgault 6pts (2G & 4A), Lorenzo Canonica 5pts (3G & 2A)

Head-to-head
Halifax had a 0-2-0-0 record against the Cataractes in the 2019-20 season while Shawinigan was 2-0-0-0 versus the Mooseheads. Kirill Nizhnikov led the Cats with 3 points as Shawinigan picked up a 8-3 victory in the last game featuring these two teams on March 1, 2020 while D'Artagnon Joly had 3 assists to lead Halifax. 

Last games

Shawinigan picked up a 3-2 overtime win in Cape Breton against the Eagles on Wednesday. Lorenzo Canonica scored the game winner while goaltender Charles-Antoine Lavallee made 26 saves to give the Cataractes the victory. 

Halifax is coming off a big 2-0 victory over the Charlottetown Islanders last Saturday. David Lafrance and Robert Orr scored for the Mooseheads while Brady James had a 32-save shutout which earned him the CHL Performer of the Night honours. 

Not playing - I think James Swan and Attilio Biasca are still out with injuries 

Out of town
Sea Dogs vs. Eagles - 7:00 p.m.
Drakkar vs. Phoenix - 8:00 p.m.
Huskies vs. Remparts - 8:00 p.m.
Foreurs vs. Armada - 8:00 p.m.

Tigres vs. Voltigeurs - 8:00 p.m.

Sagueneens vs. Olympiques - 8:30 p.m.

After the buzzer
Halifax head to the province of New Brunswick for a battle against the Moncton Wildcats on Sunday afternoon. Puck drops at 4 p.m.