Islanders Drop their Home Opener to the Moncton Wildcats
By: Ryan MacEachern
After a hard-hitting game, the Islanders dropped their home opener to the Moncton Wildcats, 3-1.
The Wildcats opened the scoring in the closing seconds of the first on a goal from Summerside native Jeremy McKenna.
The Islanders answered back with a goal of their own early in the second. Forward Gregor MacLeod found himself alone at the side of the net and redirected a shot from teammate Nikita Alexandrov to tie the game at 1-1.
Moncton seized control of the game in the third, shutting down the Islanders offence, and allowing only four shots on net the rest of the way. The tough defensive play continued after Moncton took the lead on a goal from Daniil Kuzman and then added to their lead with an empty net goal from Liam Dunda.
Former Islanders goaltender Mark Grametbauer was solid in goal for the Wildcats, stopping 23 of 24 shots, bringing his team to a 3-1 victory.
The Islanders play their next home game today at 3 p.m. taking on the Halifax Mooseheads. The team then hits the road for a three game stint that will see them face the Saint John Sea Dogs for the first time in this young season.