Series continues in Charlottetown
Screaming Eagles look to even series with Islanders in Game 2
The Cape Breton Screaming Eagles will look to even things up when they face the Charlottetown Islanders in Game 2 of their second round playoff series.
The Screaming Eagles dropped Game 1 of the bestof-seven Quebec Major Junior Hockey League series 4-1 on Thursday in P.E.I. Game 2 of the series goes tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Eastlink Centre in Charlottetown.
Thursday’s contest was the Screaming Eagles’ third game in four nights, after the team eliminated the Gatineau Olympiques in Game 7 at Centre 200 on Tuesday.
Screaming Eagles head coach and general manager Marc-André Dumont wasn’t using that as an excuse for the Game 1 loss, noting that’s playoff hockey.
Dumont said the team wants to play the best hockey they can on Saturday.
“All year and all playoffs we’ve always focused on making sure we brought our ‘A’ game and that got us success in the long run and that’s what we want to do on Saturday,” he said.
The Screaming Eagles and Islanders played a tight game through 40 minutes of play on Thursday, before the Islanders scored three third period goals to secure the win.
“I think our best period was the third period, the result wasn’t on our side, there was an empty net goal and one goal that hit the glass and hit the back of our goalie (Kevin Mandolese), but other then that, I think we took a lot of initiative offensively, that was much better than the first two periods.” said Dumont.
After an assist in Thursday’s game, Screaming Eagles forward Drake Batherson continues to be tied for the lead in playoff points (11) and currently leads the league in playoff goals (7). Giovanni Fiore (five goals and four assists, nine points) and Massimo Carozza (three goals and five assists, eight points) round out the team’s top three in points.
Meanwhile, for the Islanders, Daniel Sprong, a Pittsburgh Penguins prospect, leads Charlottetown in playoff points with three goals and six assists for nine points. Alex Dostie, an Anaheim Ducks prospect, leads the team in goals (5) and has seven points, while Filip Chlapik, an Ottawa Senators prospect, has two goals and seven points.
“Everybody is aware that they’re a team that’s built to go deep in the playoffs and go to the Memorial Cup and we respect that, at the same time we want to play,” said Dumont. “We’ve shown all year that whatever circumstance, whatever opponent, we also just play our game and do our best, some times it works and some times it didn’t.
“I think the most important thing for us is to not look on the other side too much and make sure our game is sharp (on Saturday),” said Dumont.
The Screaming Eagles were out-shot 42-21 in Thursday’s game, but Dumont didn’t look too much into that.
“I don’t think that number was accurate, to be very honest with you — there were shots that were added from icings, so, I don’t have that count on my system in terms of shots,” said Dumont. “I think it was a tight game, it was 1-1 after 40 minutes and I think if we can keep games tight, I think it’s going to give us a chance to come out on top.”
Dumont said the Islanders are a team known to have a shooting mentality.
“They will often outshoot opponents, but I think that it’s a fact among others that it’s not necessarily a priority for us to try to get as many shots as them or to have more shots then them.”
Following Saturday’s game, the series will shift to Sydney for Games 3 and 4 on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively. Puck drop for both games is set for 7 p.m. at Centre 200.
NOTE: When asked who would start in goal for Game 2 on Saturday, Dumont said the decision will be made at game time. Kevin Mandolese started Game 1 of the series, allowing three goals on 41 shots. Kyle Jessiman last started on Tuesday, making 26 saves in a 5-4 win over Gatineau in Game 7 of round one.