Mooseheads Weekend Recap 9/28-29

The Halifax Mooseheads escaped this weekend with an even split, going 1-1 over their Saturday and Friday match-ups. This was a favourable outcome when you assess how they played and who they played against.

On Friday, the Mooseheads had their home opener against Gatineau and the Metro Centre had a wild atmosphere. Almost 9,500 people packed in to see the Mooseheads coming off an 8-1 victory in P.E.I, and most expected the Mooseheads to cruise through the 0-2-0 Gatineau Olympiques. The Mooseheads likely believed the same hype, because from the very start they appeared unfocused and hesitant. That statement excludes Mackinnon, Drouin and Lewis, who played well and provided a necessary heartbeat until the game got out of reach.
The first period was fairly even, with the Olympiques getting some chances and playing physical and the Mooseheads throwing some huge hits and Mackinnon and Drouin creating some great opportunities. In the 2nd, things started to unravel for them. Tomas Hyka scored for Olympiques, and Mackinnon and Drouin hooked up for a beautiful 2 on 1 goal making 1-1. The Olympiques then scored 4 unanswered goals with Tomas Hykas second goal, Martin Reway (2) and Dominic Poulin. At the end of the period, Co-Captain Stefan Fournier got in a fight with Mikael Beauregard and Nathan Mackinnon got in a fight with Olympiques pest Adam Chapman, who beat him handily. Being the second fight in the same altercation, Mackinnon and Chapman were kicked out and the Mooseheads came into the third showing the knew they had lost this game. They appeared a step behind and if not for back-up Chris Clarke filling in well, the final score could have been a lot worse than 6-1.

 

2. GAT Tomas Hyka, (1) (Mikael Langlois), 3:47
2. HAL Nathan MacKinnon, (4) (Konrad Abeltshauser, Jonathan Drouin), 4:19
2. GAT Martin Reway, (1) (Gabriel Bourret), 9:55 (PP)
2. GAT Tomas Hyka, (2) (Mickaël Beauregard, Emile Poirier), 11:52
2. GAT Dominic Poulin, (1) (Yannick Dubé), 13:20 (PP)
2. GAT Martin Reway, (2) (Taylor Burke), 15:58
3. GAT Dominic Poulin, (2) (Martin Reway, Samuel Courtemanche), 8:37



On a better note, the Mooseheads came into Saturdays game against Cape Breton looking a lot more focused and making the right play more often, as opposed to going for big hits or dekes. Luca Ciampini opened the scoring, the first sign of life from the Mooseheads depth scorers. Brent Andrews then deflected a Trey Lewis point shot and had the Metro Centre fired up, until two opportunistic goals by the Screaming Eagles silenced the crowd before the end of the 1st with goals by Alex Lavoie and Bronson Beaton.

The game was solid back and forth hockey, with the Mooseheads separating themselves and getting a ton of chances in the last five minutes. Overtime was a similar story, but the game ended up in a shootout. Here are the only two goals. (Video: Halifax Mooseheads official youtube)

 

1. HAL Luca Ciampini, (1) (Martin Frk, Matthew Boudreau), 5:00
1. HAL Brent Andrews, (2) (Trey Lewis), 16:12
1. CAP Michael Clarke, (2) (William Carrier, Alexandre Lavoie), 18:09
1. CAP Bronson Beaton, (1) (Justin Haché), 19:57

All in all, this weekend was likely a lesson for the young Mooseheads squad, that no matter how many things are going well for them, they need to stay focused on a team game and they will succeed. It was only when the Mooseheads depth players started creating chances when the ice opened up a little for Mackinnon and Drouin.

Quick Scouting Hits for draft eligibles:

- Martin Reway had two goals and an assist against the Mooseheads, but I'm not certain he'll be drafted. He's an excellent skater and tremendously skilled, but did not even engage in a battle let alone win one. He literally would allow the Mooseheads defensemen to walk out of the corner with the puck untouched. Without a dramatic adjustment from Benoit Groulx, I could not see an NHL scout interested in that.

- Emile Porier looked alright against Halifax, no outstanding trait about him just a solid player with good hands. Could see a team taking him in a later round.

- 16 year olds (2014 eligibles) Kameron Keilly, Clarke Bishop and Alexandre Carrier did not look out place. All stood out as slight, nice skating two-way players. Carrier left in the late 1st with an injury so I did not get a great read on him.

- William Carrier was dominant for the Screaming Eagles, winning most of his battles and creating space with his solid frame. He also showed a great prowess for passing and shooting at full speed, he did not look far off of Mackinnon and Drouin in terms of talent.

- Bronson Beaton blended in with the rest of the Screaming Eagles two-way forwards, scored a goal and showed better skating than last season. He could be on a few teams draft radar.

- Mackinnon and Drouin looked themselves, but Drouin is a lot more poised and prone to controlling the pace of play this season. It seems teams are not as afraid of Mackinnon and are simply backchecking harder on him to defend his lethal speed. The gap offensively between Jon and Nathan has closed, without a doubt.

(Stats via the QMJHL)