Third-period explosion

Islanders score six goals in final 20 minutes to win Game 7 in Quebec City

The Charlottetown Islanders are heading to the second round of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League playoffs.

The Isles exploded for four goals in the first 4:20 of the third period to break a 2-2 tie Tuesday and defeat the Quebec Remparts 8-3 in Quebec City. The Isles win the best-of-seven first-round series 4-3.

It is the team’s first win in a Game 7 in franchise history and fourth straight trip to at least the second round of the playoffs. Pascal Aquin scored 28 seconds into the third period to give the Isles the lead they would not relinquish. Cam Askew scored three minutes later, Sullivan Sparkes tallied 19 seconds later and Aquin completed the hat trick at 4:20.

Olivier Garneau scored on the power play to cut the lead to 6-3. Assists went to Philipp Kurashev and former Isles forward Matthew Grouchy, who had three helpers in the contest.

Taylor Egan scored midway through the period while Aquin scored his fourth of the night into the empty net.

Saku Vesterinen had three assists in the third period while captain Pierre-Olivier Joseph and Daniel Hardie had two and singles went to Derek Gentile, Sam King and Hunter Drew and Keith Getson.

The game was tied 1-1 and 2-2 after the first and second periods, respectively. Aquin opened the scoring 2:26 into the game off a Vesterinen shot.

It was the overage forward’s third goal of the series. Getson got the other assist. The lead lasted 57 seconds before Andrew Coxhead tied it with his second of the series. Etienne Verrette and Grouchy had the helpers.

Hardie from Joseph and Olivier Desjardins gave the Isles a 2-1 lead 4:20 into the second period. Kurashev tied it on a power play midway through the period. Sam Dunn and Grouchy had the helpers.

The Islanders second-round opponent had not been determined as the Rimouski-Moncton game was still underway at press time.