CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. – Arnaud Durandeau batted a puck past Matthew Welsh for the game-winning goal on the power play Sunday as the Halifax Mooseheads defeated the Charlottetown Islanders 2-1.
It was Charlottetown's first regulation losss since dropping a 4-3 decision in Sherbrooke, Que., on Nov. 4. The Isles are 0-3-1-0 against the Herd in four meetings this season between the Maritimes Division rivals.
“It’s extremely frustrating because we thought we outplayed Halifax,” Islanders assistant captain Keith Getson said. “That was an opportunity that we could have jumped them in the standings, so it’s kind of frustrating when you play really hard and you don't get the calls you think you’re expected to get.”
Fans booed a number of times during the game when they thought a penalty against Halifax was deserved, but not called.
Hunter Drew gave the Islanders a 1-0 lead 13:36 into the first period. Samuel Asselin tied it as a Halifax power play had just ended midway through the second period.
Daniel Hardie and Pierre-Olivier Joseph had assists for Charlottetown while Marcel Barinka, Joel Bishop, Patrick Kyte and Jake Ryczek replied with helpers for Halifax.
Alexis Gravel made 37 saves for the win while Welsh stopped 28 shots in the loss.
"I think we showed a lot of character tonight,” Charlottetown captain Pierre-Olivier Joseph said. “I don't think they expected us to make them defend like that. Once again, we proved to the league that we’re there and we’re going to compete until the end.”
Halifax was 1-for-5 on the power play while Charlottetown was 1-for-3.
The Mooseheads improved to 22-7-1-0 while the Islanders are 19-8-2-1. Charlottetown is back in action Wednesday at 10 a.m. when it hosts the Moncton Wildcats.
