Fighting for division lead

Islanders play first half of back-to-back games with Mooseheads tonight in Halifax

The Charlottetown Islanders have a chance to measure themselves against the Maritimes Division leaders tonight in Halifax.

Game time is 7 p.m. at Scotiabank Centre.

The Islanders (25-12-2-0) trail the Mooseheads (26-10-4-1) by five points in the standings, but have two games in hand. The teams play Friday in Charlottetown at 7 p.m.

“It’s only just after Christmas, but they’re big points,” rightwinger Derek Gentile said after Wednesday’s practice. “It’s so close this year in the standings, every game is so critical.” The Sydney, N.S., native played the first 2 ½ seasons of his Quebec Major Junior Hockey League career in Quebec City, but is happy to be back in the Maritimes. He said there will be friends and family at tonight’s contest.

“It’s always special, but at the same time it’s not a vacation,” he said. “We’re there to win a hockey game and to get a couple points, so I need to stay on task.” The game is a chance for the Islanders to show they have improved with the acquisitions made since Christmas.

“I think we got better over the trade period and the guys we picked up are really gelling in this team,” assistant captain Keith Getson said. “Once we really get in a groove, we’re going to be a good team.” Head coach Jim Hulton said it’s a fun game that they want to win, but it is still the second week of January.

“It’s a fun little challenge, but the world is not going to end if we don’t come out successful,” he said. “By the same token it’s nice to keep climbing (in the standings) and this group has responded to challenges like that all year.”

The game will see the return to the lineup of 19-year-old defenceman Taylor Egan, who has been out since Nov. 28 with a shoulder injury. The Ottawa native, who has a goal and three assists in 24 games this season, is expected to play with overage blue-liner Olivier Desjardins, his regular partner before the injury.

Hulton said Egan’s skating and ability to move the puck will be a welcome addition to the lineup against a Mooseheads squad with top offensive threats.

“We’re going to have to slow them down. We can’t get into a track meet with them tomorrow night,” he said. “The less time we can spend in our zone the more favourable (the results are) going to be.” Matthew Welsh gets the start in the Islanders crease in his hometown.

Gentile was paired with rookies Nikita Alexandrov and Brett Budgell Monday against BaieComeau in his first game with the Isles since returning from an eye injury sustained while playing with the Remparts.

“It’s weird for me to be the oldest guy on the line,” Gentile said. “It’s the first time it’s ever happened. I’m kind of realizing I am getting old.”

Roster

The Islanders have sent 18-year-old forward Marcel Berube to Elmira Sugar Kings (junior B) in Ontario. He had a goal and four assists in 31 games with the Islanders after scoring 20 goals and 20 assists with 103 penalty minutes in 45 games in the Ontario junior B league in 2016-17.

Hulton, who is also the team’s general manager, said the move gets the team down to a more manageable 22 players and provides a chance for Berube to get more ice time in junior B and potentially return to fight for a role with the Islanders at training camp.

“He was in a position where he wasn’t going to play and I didn’t think that was fair,” he said. “I’d like to see him go back and regain some of his offensive confidence.”

Education

Egan is the Islanders Scholastic player of the month for December while Summerside’s Jeremy McKenna received the award for the Moncton Wildcats. Egan is a business student at UPEI while McKenna is attending Bernice MacNaughton High School. Only Bortles and Mike Vick had more rushing yards than passing yards in NFL playoff history. Something doesn’t seem right comparing the running abilities of these two!

Falcons at Saints

It’s hard to believe that, for the first time in NFL history, a sixth seed is favoured over the first seed. But the Falcons are favoured over the Eagles.

Philly has the best run defence in the league, and will shut down the Falcons’ running game and make Matt Ryan and the passing game beat them, which he can easily do. However, the game is going to be played outside in the cold, and this is always a big problem for a dome team in January. Nick Foles does enough as the Eagles pull off a home upset.

Saints at Vikings

The Vikings pounded the Saints in the opening game of the year. Since then a lot has changed on both teams as Sam Bradford was the quarterback and Davin Cook was running wild for the Vikings while some guy named AP was the running back for the Saints. Minnesota is tough at home, and the Saints can now beat you with the run or pass. So what will give here? Minnesota’s defense, and home-field advantage, will be the difference. Take the Vikings!

Titans at Patriots

Apparently there is a controversy in Pats Nation with the coach, quarterback and owner, but Tennessee will need more than this distraction to beat the Patriots.

The Titans want to make this an ugly game. If they can keep it close going into the second half, they have a chance with their running game, which can chew the clock.

In the end, the Pats will still prevail with pretty boy Tom Brady.

Jaguars at Steelers

Ben Roethlisberger wanted a rematch with the Jaguars, and now he has it. After losing to them in the regular season, the Steelers will need to play a clean game and score touchdowns in the red zone. Jacksonville, otherwise known as “Sacksonville,” has a great D, which will make this a very competitive game. But Bortles is the issue as he can’t make enough plays on a cold day in Pittsburgh. Take the black and yellow in an old-school defensive battle.

Last week: 3-for-4. Season: 92-for-122.

John Turner is a Summerside school teacher and coaches youth football. His column appears every Thursday during the NFL season. Feel free to e-mail questions and comments to ssidespartansfootball@yahoo.ca.