Drew leads Islanders to an overtime victory against the Titan
The Islanders keep finding ways to get wins, walking away with a 3-2 overtime victory against the Maritime Division leading Acadie-Bathurst Titan.
Matt Welsh continued his impressive stretch of games, getting yet another start in the Islanders net. At the opposite end of the ice, goaltender Reilly Pickard started between the pipes for Acadie-Bathurst.
The Titan offence has been among the QMJHL’s top units all season long, and they added to their goal totals early in this one.
Just over eight minutes into the first period, Charlottetown forward Thomas Casey was called for tripping, sending one of the league’s top power play units to the man advantage.
With less than 30 seconds remaining in the Casey penalty Titan forward Samuel L’Italien found the puck on his stick and fired a shot past Welsh to open the scoring.
The Islanders were quick to answer back though as less than five minutes later, following a Noah Dobson high sticking penalty, the Isles found themselves on a power play of their own.
A minute into the power play Gregor MacLeod got his stick on a Olivier Desjardins point shot to tie the game for the Isles.
The tie did not last long though, as less than two minutes later Titan left-winger Liam Murphy fired a shot past the Isles net minder to regain the lead for his team.
After 20 minutes of action the Isles trailed 2-1, being outshot 8-7.
In the second period both team battled for control but after neither were able to light the lamp, the game rolled into the second period with the Titan still leading, 2-1.
Halfway through the third period the Isles tied the game on the strength of Sullivan Sparkes’ 8th goal of the season.
With the score now tied neither team was able take the lead sending the game into overtime.
Just 56 seconds into overtime, Isles defencemen Hunter Drew beat Noah Dobson to a loose puck, before firing a wrist-shot past Pickard to win the game for the Islanders.
Matt Welsh improved to 16-3 in his last 19 starts, helping the Islanders to a 18-5 record in that time.
Up next for the Islanders in the annual Teddy Bear Toss game. Fans are encouraged to bring a teddy bear or stuffed animal to the game and throw it out onto the after the Isles scored their first goal. Puck drop is set for 7pm.