Islanders drop physical match-up with Sea Dogs
The Islanders were unable to help rookie goaltender Dakota Lund-Cornish grab his first win of the season, losing 4-0 to the Saint John Sea Dogs.
Charlottetown came into Friday’s game with their offence struggling. The team had been shutout earlier in the week by the Halifax Mooseheads and didn’t fare much better in this one.
Penalty trouble was a serious issue for the Islanders on Friday, and despite entering the game as the top penalty-killing unit in the league, the team struggled.
After Saku Vesterinen was called for hooking, the Saint John power-play took to this ice. Seconds later the Sea Dogs opened the scoring on a goal from forward Ostap Safin.
The Saint John special teams wasn’t done there.
Just over 10 minutes later the Saint John power-play struck again, this time on a Kevin Gursoy one-timer in front of Lund-Cornish.
As the second intermission rolled around the Isles found themselves down 2-0 being outshot 18-12.
Following a Hunter Drew roughing penalty to open the period, the Sea Dogs power-play capitalized again,
this time on a Daniel Hardie shot.
With the third period winding down Safin put the game out of reach with his second power-play goal of the game.
The Isles would go on to take eight minor penalties in the game, with the Sea Dogs scoring all of their goals on the man advantage.
Head coach Jim Hulton was disappointed with the effort level of his team.
“It was a night that was marked by disappointment,” Hulton said. “This is our first game of the season where I can say we didn’t show up and punch the clock.”
Hulton feels like his team strayed away from their style of play.
“I don’t think we played very well at all. Our trademark characteristics of work ethic, grit, tenacity didn’t show at all tonight.”
As for the Islanders, their offence has yet to make an impact this season, now being shutout in back-to-back game.
The team won’t be able to focus on the loss for too long though as the undefeated
Quebec Remparts are in town for a Sunday night matchup. Puck drop is a 7PM.