Eagles Top Mooseheads in OT Thriller at the Nest
December 30, 2022 – Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) Press Release – Cape Breton Eagles
GAME NOTES – Samuel Johnson completed his hat trick with nine seconds left to give the Eagles an exciting 6-5 overtime win. Gio DiMattia earned his first career win in nets for the Eagles, stopping 41 of 46 shots.
– After opening the shot on target, Halifax rallied from 3-1 & 5-3 to force overtime including two goals from
Zachary L’Heureux. Markus Vidicek also scored twice for Halifax.
– Ivan Ivan scored and added two assists for the Eagles, while Charles Boutin and Angelo Fullerton both scored.
– Zach Biggar registered his second night with two assists in his second game with the Eagles, while two newcomers Jacob Newcombe and Brayden Schmitt each picked up their first points for Cape Breton.
– In the absence of Nicolas Ruccia & Oliver Satny, partner Xavier Farrah served as the Eagles’ backup netminder.
Vidicek opened up Halifax after halftime in the opening frame and gave the Mooseheads momentum, but before the end of the third Ivan found a crucial goal. The first half was almost entirely five-a-side, with the exception of a Moosehead penalty which Halifax saved.
The Eagles flew out to start the second stanza, leading 3-1 in the first six minutes with goals from Boutin (after a give-and-go with Luke Patterson) and Johnson. Alex Doucet put in a shot to the top Corner to pull the guests inside one at the 12:37 mark.
Halifax leveled the game with their first power play of the night, Vidicek completing a cross-ice pass from Mathieu Cataford with just under three minutes remaining in the period. But despite the late goal time, the Eagles still had time to rebuild the two-goal lead over the next buzzer.
Johnson restored the lead on an Eagle power play and Fullerton added the lead with a low shot to beat Brady James. After the second verse it was 5:3. L’Heureux took control of the game in the third half, pulling the Mooseheads close within a minute and then equalizing with less than two minutes left.
Overtime was played at a frantic pace – no whistles for 4:51 with balanced action, with each team registering four shots on target. With the game looking like it might go into overtime, Johnson found a way to get the puck off James and sent a season-high crowd of over 3,500 into a frenzy as the home side won their second straight game.
DiMattia picked up his first career win, stopping 41 shots in 46 while James suffered the loss and allowed six goals in 33 shots.
The same two teams will give it their all again tomorrow at 2:00 p.m. in a special New Year’s Eve matinee! Tickets can be purchased at https://bit.ly/3Gu9nU1. They can also be purchased in person at the Center 200 box office and by calling 902-564-2200 during box office hours
THREE STARS OF THE GAME
1. Samuel Johnson (Cape Breton) 3 goals, 1 assist
2. Ivan Ivan (Cape Breton) 1 goal, 2 assists
3. Zachary L’Heureux (Halifax) 2 goals, 8 shots
Scratches for Cape Breton: Oliver Santy (World Juniors), Preston Pattengale, Carter McCluskey, Nicolas Ruccia (lower body injury), Jude Campbell (upper body injury)
Scratches for Halifax: David Moravec (World Juniors), Attilio Biasca (World Juniors), Liam Welsh
Last shots on goal: 46-33 in Halifax
Cape Breton power play: 1/2
Halifax power play: 1/3
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