Charlottetown skate past Mooseheads in weekend series opener

The Halifax Mooseheads travelled to P.E.I. to begin a home-and-home series against the Charlottetown Islanders before the holiday break.

The Herd were last in action on Dec. 8, falling to the Acadie Bathurst Titan 2-1 in overtime.

Nathan Leek opened the scoring for Charlottetown five minutes into the first as Ross Campbell secured a bouncing puck on the Moosehead blue line before leaving it at the top of the right-wing faceoff circle for Leek to snipe it past the glove of Mathis Rousseau.

The Herd quickly retaliated as moments later, Justin Breton flipped a puck forward from the Moosehead blueline for Cole MacLeod as he sped ahead, beating the defence to the puck and burying it past the Islanders goaltender on the backhand for his first QMJHL goal only 6:57 into his debut. Justin Breton also picked up his first QMJHL point and assisted with the play.

Charlottetown restored their lead 9:41 into the second period as Ross Campbell drove up the left wing and beat Rousseau.

The Islanders increased their lead early in the third period. Brayden Stumpf took advantage of a turnover off Justin Breton and found Jude Herron in front of the Moosehead net, who snapped it past Rousseau to give the Islanders a 3-1 lead.

Simon Hughes kept the party going for Charlottetown. Ross Campbell found Hughes tight on Rousseau, and Hughes put the puck past the Mooseheads’ netminder. The play was reviewed briefly before being allowed, giving the Islanders a three-goal lead. Charlottetown almost added another goal with less than 10 minutes remaining but was waved off after a clear kicking motion.

The Mooseheads fell to the Charlottetown Islanders 4-1 and with the loss the Mooseheads fall to the bottom of the Maritimes division with a record of 10-15-5 while the Islanders improve to 12-15-3.

Ross Campbell claimed the first star with a goal and two assists for the Islanders. Simon Hughes received the second star, and Mooseheads forward Cole MacLeod received the third star for his first-ever QMJHL goal.

The two teams are right back at it Saturday as they make their way to Halifax for the second half of the home-and-home series. Puck drop is at 7 p.m., and you can catch the action here at 95.7 News Radio starting at 6:30 p.m. with the Mr. Lube pre-game show.