Game #5 Recap: Moncton Wildcats vs. Halifax Mooseheads

Moncton Wildcats vs. Halifax Mooseheads

Final Score
Moncton - 4
Halifax - 1

Goalscorers
Moncton: Manuel Wiederer (2), Stephen Johnson, Liam Murphy
Halifax: Cavan Fitzgerald

Goalies
Moncton: Zachary Fortin (W)
Halifax: Eric Brassard (L)

Moosehead Player of the Game

It wasn't a good game all around. I'll give it to Eric Brassard. While the last two goals he gave up could have been stopped, he did quite a bit to keep the Mooseheads in the game. Overall, he stopped 40 of 44 shots in the losing effort.

Thing That Annoyed Me

Usually if a guy gets hauled down on a breakaway, there is at least a penalty (if not a penalty shot). Unfortunately that wasn't the case, as Andrew Shewfelt was taken down in the first on a breakaway, and nothing was called.

Game Notes

• It was Moncton for most of the game. Halifax struggled to get there offense going after the first.
• Defensively, it wasn't good for Halifax either. Brassard had to make a couple saves on odd-man rushes.
• One bright spot is that the Mooseheads managed to kill off all six Wildcat powerplays (including a 2-man advantage).
• Cody Donaghey had an ok debut. He was credited with four hits, no point, even plus-minus, and was noticeable at times. 

Game Pics

Caught it slightly late, but this is the non-call on Shewfelt's breakaway

He's Baaaaaaaaaccccckkkk! (and so were the boos)

The setup to Moncton's second goal

As you may have noted, Garland had the puck quite a bit when he was on the ice.

Game #4 Recap: Saint John Sea Dogs vs. Halifax Mooseheads

Saint John Sea Dogs vs. Halifax Mooseheads

Final Score
Saint John - 1
Halifax - 5

Goalscorers
Saint John: Ryan Chiasson
Halifax: Max Fortier (3), Arnaud Durandeau, Vincent Watt

Goalies
Saint John: Alex Bishop (L), Marc-Antoine Turcotte
Halifax: Eric Brassard (W)

Moosehead Player of the Game

Max Fortier. He played really well, and managed to get a hat trick in the process, with two of the goals coming on solo efforts. My hat is (literally) off to him.

Thing That Annoyed Me

Hard to really say anything bad after a win like that. Maybe the tripping call on Cavan Fitzgerald, it was a pretty weak one.

Game Notes

• It was a much better game for the home team. They did come out a bit flat footed in the beginning, but after Fortier opened the scoring they improved.
• Congrats to 1st round pick Durandeau for scoring his first QMJHL goal.
• Otti Somppi had a good game as well. The Finnish import record three assist in the win.
• It was a mixed return for former Moosehead Jordan King. He did get an assist on the Sea Dogs' lone goal, but left the game in the third after taking a puck to the face.
• A couple of fights near the end of the game, as Kelly Bent tangled with Kyle Ward, while Dominik Blain-Dupuis took on Jason Bell. Since they were both within the last five minutes, would not be surprised if there is a suspension or two (especially since Blain-Dupuis-Bell fight was right after Bent-Ward's fight).

Game Pics

Video

Max Fortier's second goal of the game.

Game #3 Recap: Acadie-Bathurst Titan vs. Halifax Mooseheads

Acadie-Bathurst Titan vs. Halifax Mooseheads

Final Score
Acadie-Bathurst - 4
Halifax - 0

Goalscorers
Acadie-Bathurst: Nicholas Blanchard, Antoine Morand, Vladimir Kuznetsov, Jordan Maher
Halifax: None

Goalies
Acadie-Bathurst: Reilly Pickard (W)
Halifax: Eric Brassard (L)

Moosehead Player of the Game

Kelly Bent. I'll admit when the Mooseheads first got him last year I wasn't too thrilled, but that has change. Despite a mess of a game, Bent rarely (if ever) took a shift off, always forechecking and keeping pressure on the puck. He was a bright spot in what was an underwhelming performance.

Thing That Annoyed Me

I don't know what happened between the first and second period, but they set up a bakery in the middle frame. Just turnover after turnover early on, and were not able to recover.

Game Notes

• The place formerly known as the Metro Centre underwent renovations during the summer. One of the changes was replacing the orange seats with more comfortable blue seats. In honour of the change, a orange seat was hung in the rafters along with the retired jerseys. 
• Along with Bent, I was impressed with Ilya Putintsev. He was checking pretty well in the first, disturbing Titan forwards in the neutral zone. Putintsev also had a few carry-ins (sadly, they didn't amount to much).
• The defense group didn't have a good game overall, with Walter Flower standing out more than most. The rookie defenseman was targeted and beat quite a bit by Titan forwards. He was also penalized twice.
• Speaking of being penalized, Connor Moynihan. He took a dumb checking from behind penalty, and was involved in a few altercations in the third.
• Acadie-Bathrust was deadly on special teams. Blanchard scored on a shorthanded breakaway, and two of the other three goals came on powerplays (Maher scored seconds after a powerplay expired, so it could have been three).

Game Pics

Even rookie refs get the solo treatment.

(Most) of the 2015-2016 Halifax Mooseheads.

See? They hung a fricken chair in the rafter! Too bad there was no ceremony for it.

Couldn't get by without some maintenance.

Video



Morand's goal to make it 2-0 for the Titan