Islanders split on the road vs. Cape Breton

Charlottetown returns to action in Halifax on Friday night

SYDNEY, N.S. – Jarrett Baker recorded three points and Nicolas Ruccia made 25 saves in his Quebec Major Junior Hockey League debut on Saturday night to lead the Cape Breton Eagles to a 6-2 victory over the Charlottetown Islanders.

The win earned the Eagles a split of a two-game weekend series at Centre 200 after the Islanders won 5-2 on Friday night.

The Islanders, who resume play in Halifax against the Mooseheads (1-2-1-0) on Friday at 7 p.m., are 3-1-0-0 (won-lost-overtime lossesshootout losses) while the Eagles moved back to .500 at 2-2-0-0.

EAGLES 6 ISLANDERS 2

Before 925 fans, Baker had a goal and two assists while Émile Hegarty-Aubin and Shawn Element each tallied once and added a helper. Nathan Larose, Felix Lafrance and Liam Kidney rounded out the scoring for Cape Breton, which received assists from Ryan Francis (2) and Connor Trenholm.

Sam Oliver and Cédric Desruisseaux answered for the Islanders. Charlottetown native Thomas Casey (2), Keiran Gallant of Covehead and Oscar Plandowski were credited with assists.

The Eagles held period leads of 2-0 and 3-1.

Overall, the Islanders held a 27-22 shots-on-goal advantage. Jacob Goobie tended goal for the Islanders.

The game’s three stars were:

1. Nicolas Ruccia (Eagles),

2. Jarrett Baker (Eagles), 3. Émile Hegarty-Aubin (Eagles).

ISLANDERS 5 EAGLES 2

Before 925 fans at Centre 200, Desruisseaux and Justin Gill and each had a goal and an assist while Casey and Vegas Golden Knights’ draft choice Lukas Cormier chipped in with a pair of helpers to lead the Islanders. Ben Boyd, Brendan McCarthy and Drew Johnston contributed single tallies.

Brett Budgell collected a single assist.

Lafrance and Kidney replied for the Eagles. Jarrett Baker, Nathan Larose, Emile Hegarty-Aubin and Shawn Element drew assists.

The Islanders led 1-0 after the opening period and the teams went into the second intermission tied 1-1.

Colten Ellis earned the goaltending win while William Grimard held the Eagles in the game as the Islanders outshot their hosts 42-15, including period advantages of 16-3, 16-7 and 10-5.

The game’s three stars were:

1. Justin Gill (Islanders), 2. William Grimard (Eagles), 3. Lukas Cormier (Islanders).