CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. – Brendon Clavelle picked a good time to score his first goal as a Charlottetown Islander.
The rookie defenceman blasted a shot far side past Quebec Remparts goalie Antoine Samuel with 5:37 left in the third period to give the Islanders a 2-1 lead they would not relinquish. Charlottetown defeated the Remparts 3-1 in Game 5 to take a 3-2 lead in their best-of-seven Quebec Major Junior Hockey League playoff series.
“There’s no better way, eh? Game-winner,” Clavelle said, when asked if that’s the script he had in mind for his first major junior goal.
“Hunter (Drew) made a nice pass to me, I had plenty of time, and (Sullivan) Sparkes just took the goalie’s eye,” the Kapuskasing, Ont., native said in describing the milestone marker. “I just tried to get it through and, luckily, it found a hole.”
It was easy to see how his teammates felt about Clavelle scoring the goal at the time of the marker and after the game.
“It’s unbelievable,” assistant captain Keith Getson said. “I don't think I’ve seen a guy, through my four years here, that has worked as hard as Clavelle has, day in and day out.”
Game 6 is Monday at 8 p.m. Atlantic in Quebec City, Que. Game 7, if necessary, is Tuesday at 8 p.m. in Quebec City.
Saturday at the Eastlink Centre, Nikita Alexandrov completed a nifty passing play from Derek Gentile and Brett Budgell 13 minutes into the second period to opening the scoring on an Isles power play. It was the rookie’s first playoff goal.
Jesse Sutton tied it 1:19 into the third period by tipping a Tomas Dajcar point shot five-hole past Islanders goalie Matthew Welsh.
The Islanders goalie was lights-out after that, making several key stops and holding his team in it when they coughed up the puck and gave Quebec skaters great looks.
“Welshy was unbelievable and he’s been like that all year and that’s why he’s our MVP,” Getson said.
Pascal Laberge hit iron and former Islanders forward Gregor MacLeod was robbed by Welsh with about a minute to play.
“It’s been a breakout season for Welsh this year and he’s been playing really well. Somehow, we have to get him off his game,” MacLeod said. “That last shot there, I wish I could get it back, but we have to move on.”
After the save on MacLeod, the puck came to Pascal Aquin, who found Getson to pot the empty-net goal and ice the victory with 58 seconds left.
Welsh made 41 saves for the win and was named the game’s first star while Samuel stopped 30 shots in the loss and took home the third star honour.
“Welsh stood on his head and so did our goaltender,” former Isles forward Matthew Grouchy said. “The bounces didn't go our way tonight. Hopefully, we get them on Monday.”
Hulton said winning Game 5 was important as it gives the Islanders a lead heading back to Quebec City.
“It would be a tall task to have to go in there and win two,” he said, but “it’s a race to four, not three. We're certainly happy to get a win today, but we know there’s one big one left on the table.”
The Islanders leave Charlottetown Saturday night and will stay in Woodstock, N.B., before travelling to Quebec City on Sunday.
Highlight reel
A look at Saturday’s Quebec Major Junior Hockey League playoff game between the host Charlottetown Islanders and the visiting Quebec Remparts.
Outcome
Quebec – 1.
Charlottetown – 3.
Goals
Quebec – Jesse Sutton.
Charlottetown – Nikita Alexandrov, Brendon Clavelle and Keith Getson.
Assists
Quebec – Tomas Dajcar.
Charlottetown – Derek Gentile, Brett Budgell, Hunter Drew, Pascal Aquin and Daniel Hardie.
Goalies
Quebec – Antoine Samuel, 30 saves on 32 shots.
Charlottetown – Matthew Welsh, 41 saves on 42 shots.
Power plays
Quebec – 0-for-4.
Charlottetown – 1-for-3.
Faceoff wins
Quebec – 27.
Charlottetown – 30.
Hits
Quebec – 13.
Charlottetown – 12.
Attendance – 2,444.
