The P.E.I. Rocket dealt the Halifax Mooseheads’ playoff hopes a heavy blow yesterday in Charlottetown.
Rocket forward Simon Olsson scored the game-winner with three minutes to go and Joel Champagne scored into an empty net as the Rocket beat the Mooseheads 6-4.
The Mooseheads went 3-for-7 on the power play, fired 40 shots on Rocket goalie Bobby Nadeau and battled back from one-goal deficits twice in the final 22 minutes.
“Nadeau played a heck of a game … He’s been their MVP all season,” said Mooseheads head coach Cam Russell. “We got four goals on him and just couldn’t muster any more, and we made defensive mistakes that cost us goals.”
Alexis Piette had two goals and an assist for Halifax, while Travis Randell and Jessyko Bernard added singles. Gabriel Desjardins missed the end of the game with a shoulder injury.
Russell was more than happy with his team’s effort, which he said was as good as it was in Friday’s 4-3 shootout loss to the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles at the Metro Centre.
The last-place Mooseheads (17-38-7, 41 points) had a golden opportunity to make up ground on Lewiston and Val-d’Or, teams they must pass to make the playoffs. Both lost yesterday and are tied three points ahead of Halifax.
The Mooseheads’ next game goes Saturday at Bathurst against the Titan, the start of a three-game road trip.
“We’ve got to stay positive and look at all the good things we’re doing,” Russell said. “We’ve got a week to rest, to get ready for the weekend and get some more points.”
