Mooseheads victorious over Islanders in home opener shootout

The Halifax Mooseheads returned to home ice following a season-opening loss in Charlottetown last night.

The Moose wasted no time electrifying the crowd at Scotiabank Centre, as Jasu Mensonen found the back of the net just 3:25 into the opening frame for his second goal of the season.

The Herd weren’t done there. Just over two minutes later, William Bent notched his first of the season, beating Islanders goalie Vincent Gladu to make it 2–0 for Halifax. Jude Herron cut the lead to one at the 10-minute mark, scoring his first of the season while the Mooseheads were shorthanded. Charlottetown tied the game at 13:41 of the first period when Nathan Leek snuck a shot past Owen Bresson.

The Mooseheads hit the ice after the first intermission and quickly took the lead on a Quinn Kennedy goal at the 59-second mark of the second. Shawn Carrier and Oleg Kulebyakin picked up assists on the only goal of the middle frame.

Charlottetown tied the game early in the third while a man down, with Anthony Flannagan scoring shorthanded at the 4:28 mark. The Mooseheads brought the 8,200 fans at Scotiabank Centre to life at 14:34 when Shawn Carrier redirected a shot from Eddy Doyle. The Islanders replied just 35 seconds later, with Flannagan scoring his second of the game to knot things up at four.

Regulation time couldn’t decide the game, and fans were treated to the first overtime contest of the Mooseheads’ season. Oleg Kulebyakin took a tripping penalty 1:33 into the extra frame, but the Herd managed to kill it off. With the score still tied after overtime, the game went to a shootout. Jasu Mensonen and Quinn Kennedy scored for Halifax to seal the victory.

Shawn Carrier earned first star of the game honors, with Anthony Flannagan named second star and Carlos Handel third. The Halifax Mooseheads return to the ice next Friday when they welcome Saint John to Scotiabank Centre.