CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — Thomas Casey scored the overtime winner and Matthew Welsh stood on his head as the Charlottetown Islanders go into the Christmas break on a two-game win streak.
The Charlottetown native banked a loose puck off Cape Breton Eagles goalie Kevin Mandolese and into the net for a power-play goal with 35 seconds left in the extra frame for a 3-2 win Saturday in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action.
Welsh stopped 39 shots, including a penalty shot by former teammate Derek Gentile in the first period and a shorthanded breakaway by Shaun Miller in overtime.
“Welshy really battled for us so I was happy to get that (win) for him. He had some crazy saves in that one,” Casey said. “It’s good to go and see Santa in a week or two and have that win under our belt.”
Islanders head coach Jim Hulton said he didn't think his team played particularly well but found a way to win.
“It was a night when Welsh was the big difference in the game,” he said. “To be able to persevere and stick around and get the win is great.”
Welsh turned in back-to-back strong performances in his 200th career start Friday in his hometown of Halifax and Saturday in Charlottetown, where he has played his entire 4 ½ seasons of junior hockey.
“He was outstanding,” Hulton said. “It’s a great way to end the first half because he looks to be rounding into form boy for the home stretch of his career.”
Xavier Bernard scored a power-play goal to give the home side a 1-0 lead five minutes into the game. Ryan Francis tied it late in the second and Mathias Laferrière gave the visitors the lead on a power play with 4:09 left.
Zac Beauregard tied it about two minutes later.
“I just saw a loose puck and ripped it,” Beauregard said, noting Mandolese is one of his buddies.
“The Beauregard line was effective all night and it’s good to see a guy like that get his chance to be in the limelight,” Hulton said.
Mandolese stopped 30 shots in the loss and was the second star of the game.
Will Trudeau, captain Brendon Clavelle, Kevin Gursoy, Brett Budgell, Lukas Cormier and Beauregard each had an assist for Charlottetown.
Gentile, Miller, Shawn Boudrias, another former Islander, and Brooklyn Kalmikov drew helpers for Cape Breton.
Charlottetown was 2-for-4 on the power play while Cape Breton was 1-for-4.
The Islanders improved to 20-12-4-0, seven points up on the Eagles (17-13-2-1), which has played three fewer games.
“That was technically a four-point game, they’re so close to us in the standings,” Casey said.
Hulton said the team showed resilience and perseverance – two traits they will need in the second half.
He spoke to the group after the game before meeting with each player individually.
“The main message was it’s been a hell of first half,” he said. “Twenty wins in the first half and one of the toughest schedules I’ve seen in a long time, combined with injuries. . . (I’m) just really proud of how they battled through all the different adversities they faced and managed to have a successful first half.
“They’ve earned the rest and I want them to go home and enjoy their families.”
The Islanders return to the ice on Dec. 28 in Moncton to play the Wildcats.
