CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — Records were tied and extended, a young player scored his first Quebec Major Junior Hockey League goal and the Charlottetown Islanders earned a win without playing a strong game Wednesday at the Eastlink Centre.
The Isles defeated a short-staffed Halifax Mooseheads squad 5-3 for their seventh straight home victory to tie the Islanders’ team record.
“There was way more that I didn’t like than I liked,” Islanders’ head coach Jim Hulton said. “We lacked energy all week and we lacked it tonight.”
He said the Mooseheads are a young team dealing with injuries.
“But they work and they compete,” he said. “I thought we did just enough to win.”
Discipline was again questionable as the Islanders handed the Mooseheads eight power plays. Had they had Justin Barron and Zachary L’Heureux the outcome may have been different.
“It was not our best game,” admitted associate captain Cédric Desruisseaux. “It was our first (mid-week) game. We have to learn from it.”
The sniper scored two goals to extend his streak to 13th straight games. He is now tied for 16th in league history with guys like Pierre Turgeon and Guy Lafleur, who accomplished the feat five times.
“I am just trying to embrace the moment and enjoy it with the boys because I know it is one in a lifetime,” he said.
Highlight reel
A look at Wednesday’s Quebec Major Junior Hockey League game between the Charlottetown Islanders and Halifax Mooseheads.
Outcome
Halifax – 3.
Charlottetown – 5.
Goals
Halifax – Markus Vidicek 2 and Elliot Desnoyers.
Charlottetown – Cédric Desruisseaux 2, Oscar Plandowski, Brett Budgell and Thomas Casey.
Assists
Halifax – James Swan, Liam Peyton, Elliot Desnoyers and Zack Jones.
Charlottetown – Thomas Casey 2, Noah Laaouan 2, Keiran Gallant, Sam Oliver, Brett Budgell, Will Trudeau and Cédric Desruisseaux.
Goalies
Halifax – Brady James, 18 saves on 23 shots.
Charlottetown – Jacob Goobie, 21 saves on 24 shots.
Power play
Halifax – 5-6-2-2.
Charlottetown – 12-2-0-0.
Records
Halifax – 1-for-8.
Charlottetown – 3-for-3.
Three stars
1. Cedric Désruisseaux, Charlottetown.
2. Brett Budgell, Charlottetown.
3. Markus Vidicek, Halifax.
Desruisseaux can join five others, including Sidney Crosby and Michel Bossy, in 11th all-time with a goal Friday against the Saint John Sea Dogs at the Eastlink Centre. Pierre Larouche holds the record of 27 in the mid-1970s, but Crosby is the only player ahead of Desruisseuax who had as long of a streak since 1993.
Desruisseaux got the record out of the way early Wednesday. After taking a tripping penalty 1:30 into the game, he came out of the box and converted a two-on-one with Keiran Gallant 3:47 into the game. He made it 3-1 midway through the game with a power-play goal.
Hulton said there’s few things that compare to when a player is on a roll like Desruisseaux.
“As a staff, we’ve enjoyed it as much as the fans have,” he said. “Every time he shoots the puck you almost think it’s going in now. It’s ridiculous how hot it is, but it’s been a lot of fun to watch.”
It was also a milestone night for defenceman Oscar Plandowski, who scored his first goal in the league with a power-play marker with 3:29 to play in the first period.
“I definitely waited a while, so it felt unreal,” he said after his 74th career game. “The boys were pretty pumped. … They were part of the journey. It’s definitely unreal and (I’m) looking to get another one soon.”
Hulton said the team were happy for the Halifax native.
“He’s been pressing a lot. He’s had a lot of looks here. We’ve been encouraging him to just shoot the darn puck because he has a really good shot, but I don't think he believes it’s as good as we believe it is,” he said. “It was certainly great to see that smile on his face and the weight of the world off his shoulders and I think you’ll really see him take off now.”
Plandowski received the game puck after the victory.
“It’s a big confidence booster and maybe I’ll shoot the puck more now.”
Hulton was also pleased with the play of sophomore goalie Jacob Goobie, who made a few key saves.
“That wasn’t an easy game to play because (there) was a scramble, sloppy play in front of him.”
