The first home game of the season is always a bit of a jumble for the Halifax Mooseheads.
Emotions run high for everyone and the rookies are sometimes swept up by the bright lights and big crowd. Friday night was no exception, with the Charlottetown Islanders at the Scotiabank Centre for a rematch from last Saturday.
And for the second time in less than a week, the Islanders got the best of the Mooseheads, handing them a 3-1 setback in front of 7,933 fans.
“Since last weekend we’re not playing the game that we want,” said Mooseheads forward Maxim Trepanier. “Maybe the guys were a little pumped for the first period but after that I think it’s just hockey and we need to play much better than that.
“We gave up so many scoring chances, we didn’t play hard enough and the second period we spent, I think, 12 minutes in our end. We need to be much better, starting with the veterans. We need to be more aggressive, more intense and show the way to the kids.”
The play for both teams was predictably erratic for most of the night, but especially early on. The visitors made the most of the scattered start, taking a 2-0 first period lead.
The Mooseheads got a goal from rookie Zack Jones in the second period to cut the advantage to 2-1 and help them settle in. But the lift wouldn't carry them any further than that and the Islanders wrapped up the victory with an empty-netter.
“At the start I could tell everyone had some jitters,” said 16-year-old Halifax defenceman Cameron Whynot. “Everyone’s nervous for the first game at home but towards the end I thought we started playing some good hockey and hopefully we can carry that into tomorrow.”
Brett Budgell, Cedric Desruisseaux and Nikita Alexandrov had the Islanders goals. Matt Welsh made 21 saves for Charlottetown and Cole McLaren stopped 31 shots for Halifax.
“They capitalized on their chances and we couldn't find the net on a lot of ours,” Whynot said. “I think that was the big thing. And I found they played with a bit more urgency than us. They wanted it a bit more but hopefully the boys can bounce back tomorrow.”
Despite the outcome, it was still a special night for the first-year Halifax players.
“It’s a different atmosphere, for sure, with all the fans and all the noise,” said Whynot. “I just tried to go out and play my game but I was a little nervous at the start. I got that out near the end and started to play my game more. Hopefully I can carry that into tomorrow.”
The Mooseheads are still without a win or a point to open the season.
“That’s not the start that we wanted; 0-3 is never a good situation,” Trepanier said. “At least it’s happening at the beginning of the season so we have time to fix it. We just need to work harder.”
There was also another injury for Halifax. Rookie forward Jeff Burridge left the game early in the first period with an upper body injury, bringing the number of players sidelined so far to four.
The Mooseheads host the Bathurst Titan on Saturday.
“Definitely playing this first one here at home will help me adjust for tomorrow,” Whynot said. “I got the first one under my belt so hopefully I'm more comfortable at the start.”
Notes: BO Groulx (Anaheim Ducks training camp), Jared McIsaac (shoulder), Alexis Gravel (lower body) and Cole Foston (knee) did not dress for Halifax.
