2018-10-20

The Halifax Mooseheads have made the most of their epic 15 game road trip to start the QMJHL season. The team picked up their 10th victory in 13 games on Saturday night in Sherbrooke by doubling the Phoenix 4-2. Jared McIsaac and Marcel Barinka had third period goals while Cole McLaren kept his perfect record intact by winning his third start of the year with 29 saves.

BOX SCORE

McIsaac’s second goal in as many days turned out to be the game-winner as Sherbrooke attempted a comeback by scoring two quick goals late in the third period to make things interesting down the stretch. The Mooseheads built up a 4-0 advantage before goals 37 seconds apart from Yann-Felix Lapointe and Samuel Poulin ruined a second straight shutout bid for McLaren.

Halifax jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period as Antoine Morand tipped in his seventh goal of the season on a centering pass by Raphael Lavoie just 1:49 into the contest. Lavoie added to the Moose lead with a highlight reel move down the left side, going high on goalie Thomas Sigouin at the 7:12 mark. The goal was Lavoie’s 10th of the season, moving him into a tie with Baie-Comeau’s Yaroslav Alexeyev and Victoriaville’s Simon Lafrance for the league lead. Arnaud Durandeau and the goalie Cole McLaren picked up the assists which marked the first career point for McLaren.

The 2-0 score held up through 40 minutes with the Moose holding a 25-13 edge in shots heading into the third period. McIsaac struck on a blast from the point after a feed from Durandeau. Jake Ryczek also had an assist on the game-winner that came 3:10 into the final stanza. The red-hot Marcel Barinka added some insurance with a goal from the slot following some hard work down low by Ben Higgins to set up the rookie from the Czech Republic. Barinka has points in four of his last five games with three goals and three assists over that span. That put the Herd ahead 4-0 and it looked as though they would coast to a win but they faced a big push back from the Phoenix who put 18 shots on McLaren in the final period alone as Halifax hung on for the 4-2 win.

Final shots were 31-29 Sherbrooke with both clubs going 0-4 on the man advantage. Lavoie was named first star, Durandeau the second star and Lapointe the third star.

The victory came at a price as veteran Joel Bishop was forced to leave the game early in the second period when he was hit from behind by Edouard St-Laurent. Bishop was being re-assessed following the game. It would be tough news for the St. John’s native if he is forced to miss any time as he just returned from the injured list on Wednesday in Moncton. The fourth-year forward can always be counted on to bring an element of grit and physicality to the Mooseheads lineup when he is on the ice.

With two points each, Lavoie (10 goals 6 assists) and Durandeau (6 goals 10 assists) continue to lead the team in scoring with 16 points. The Mooseheads 10-3 record is tops in the Maritimes Division. With 20 points Halifax is tied with Rouyn-Noranda (10-2) for most in the QMJHL.

The Mooseheads will finish the busy weekend of three-games-in-three days on Sunday afternoon at 4pm Atlantic vs the dangerous Drummondville Voltigeurs. The Volts are 9-4 on the season and have been one of the team’s pegged by many to contend for the President Cup title in the spring. After Sunday’s game the Moose will have just one more road game, next Friday in Cape Breton, before finally getting the chance to play on home ice in the home opener next Saturday at 7pm vs the Screaming Eagles. Tickets are on sale now for the General Public at the Ticket Atlantic Box Office, select Superstore outlets, TicketAtlantic.com, the Official Mooseheads Shop in Scotia Square Mall or by phone 902-451-1221.