Music: {allcanada} QMJHL: MOOSEHEADS EARN VICTORY OVER CATARACTES

Saturday, February 25, 2012

{allcanada} QMJHL: MOOSEHEADS EARN VICTORY OVER CATARACTES

With a playoff position already clinched, the Halifax Mooseheads' next goal should be securing home-ice advantage.

Andrew Ryan scored the winning goal early in the third period as the Mooseheads defeated the visiting Shawinigan Cataractes 3-2 on Saturday in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action.

The victory was the 22nd of the year for the Mooseheads at the Halifax Metro Centre, which is the second most home wins for any team in the league.

Their .742 winning-percentage is also second in the league, behind only the Saint John Sea Dogs.

Martin Frk had a goal and an assist for the Mooseheads (34-19-6), Jonathan Drouin scored once and Nathan MacKinnon chipped in with two assists.

Maximilien Le Sieur and Kirill Kabanov each had a goal for the Cataractes (40-13-7), who had their winning streak halted at three games.

Zachary Fucale made 32 saves for his 27th win of the year, and the game's first star, while Gabriel Girard turned away 23 shots in a losing effort.

Halifax failed to score on four opportunities with the man advantage as Shawinigan went 1 for 4.

Elsewhere in the QMJHL, it was: Rimouski 7, Baie-Comeau 4; Acadie-Bathurst 4, Cape Breton 3; Saint John 3, Moncton 2 (SO); Rouyn-Noranda 4, Drummondville 2; and Val-d'Or 7, P.E.I. 3.

At Halifax, N.S., Frk opened the scoring at 8:36 of the first period to give the Mooseheads an early lead, but Le Sieur responded for the Cataractes at 10:46 to make it a 1-1 game after 20 minutes of play.

Drouin scored the only goal of the second period at 7:44 to regain a one-goal lead for Halifax heading into the final period.

Ryan doubled his squad's lead at 5:44, with what stood to be the game winner, before Kabonov added a late power-play goal for Shawinigan.

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Oceanic 7 Drakkar 4

At Rimouski, Que., the line of Alexandre Mallet, Peter Trainor and Alex Belzile combined for two goals and nine points as Rimouski (37-23-1) defeated Baie-Comeau (27-27-5), who have now lost three of their past four games.

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Titan 4 Screaming Eagles 3

At Bathurst, N.B., Sebastien Trudeau had a goal and an assist and Robert Steeves made 17 saves as the Titan (28-27-5) snapped their four-game losing skid with a win over Cape Breton (21-35-3).

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Sea Dogs 3 Wildcats 2 (SO)

At Moncton, N.B., Wildcats (27-25-6) goaltender Roman Will stopped 50-of-52 shots in regulation and overtime but Jonathan Huberdeau beat him in the shootout to secure a 13th straight victory for Saint John (43-14-2).

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Huskies 4 Voltiguers 2

At Rouyn-Noranda, Que., Sven Andrighetto scored twice and Mathieu Brisebois chipped in a goal and an assist as the Huskies (20-34-6) doubled up Drummondville (24-27-8).

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Foreurs 7 Rocket 3

At Val-d'Or, Que., Michael Beaudry set up five goals and Mathieu Guertin scored twice as the Foreurs (25-30-5) handed P.E.I. (17-39-4) their eighth straight loss.