CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. – Pier-Olivier Lacombe and former Charlottetown Islanders forward Mitchell Balmas each had a goal and an assist Saturday to lead the Gatineau Olympiques to a 3-1 victory over the host Islanders.
Anthony Beauchamp also scored during Quebec Major Junior Hockey League play at the Eastlink Centre while Alex Malo added an assist.
Matthew Grouchy from Sam King and Gregor MacLeod scored for the home side.
Mathieu Bellemare made 31 saves for the win while Matthew Welsh stopped 22 shots in the loss.
The Olympiques led 2-1 after the first and second periods while Balmas iced it late with an empty net goal.
The Islanders started the game with five defencemen and lost Saku Vesterinen in the first period when he was hit by former teammate Shawn Boudrias, who received a five-minute major for boarding and a game misconduct. The third former Islander, Will Thompson, got into the action early laying a big hit on Sullivan Sparkes and then fighting Sam King.
Gatineau improved to 16-10-2-2 and is 6-0-1-1 in its last eight contests. The Islanders fall to 18-11-1-0.
The Islanders travel to Bathurst, N.B., on Wednesday to play the Titan. They host the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles on Friday and go to Saint John, N.B., Saturday to play the Sea Dogs in the final game before the Christmas break.
