Thursday, May 4, 2023

Mooseheads even up series with Phoenix

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The Halifax Mooseheads are coming home with a series split.

The Mooseheads won Thursday night's critical Game 4 of the Gilles Courteau Trophy semifinal series, defeating the Sherbrooke Phoenix 5-2. The best-of-seven series now returns to Scotiabank Centre tied 2-2 after the Moose took two straight from the Phoenix on the road.

Like Tuesday's Game 3, the Mooseheads took a 4-0 lead, stunning the Sherbrooke crowd that has witnessed very few losses this year. Halifax led 2-0 after one and doubled their lead in the middle frame. The Phoenix trailed just 14 times after one period in the regular season - and only five of those matches took place at home. Sherbrooke trailed after one in both of these home losses to Halifax.

Sherbrooke pressed in the third period. Joshua Roy and Tyson Hinds both scored but that would be the only goals the Phoenix could generate. 

Alexandre Doucet finished with two goals for Halifax while Mathieu Cataford, Attilio Biasca and Evan Boucher also scored. Mathis Rousseau was excellent in net, ensuring momentum stayed in Halifax's favour when the game was close.
The Mooseheads were still out forward Jordan Dumais and defenseman Cameron Whynot due to injuries. They did get forward Braeden MacPhee back though, who rejoined the club following the passing of his mother.

The series shifts back to Halifax where Sherbrooke took Games 1 and 2 last Saturday and Sunday. While this was expected to be a close and competitive series, there's probably not many who predicted neither team would have a home victory at this point.

Sherbrooke entered the series with a home record of 33-1-3-1 in the regular season and playoffs combined. They've now dropped back-to-back home games in regulation time.

Following Saturday's Game 5 (which has a 2 p.m. start), Game 6 is back in Sherbrooke on Sunday night at 6 p.m. A Game 7, if needed, would be Tuesday night in Halifax.

The winner of this series will face the Quebec Remparts in the Gilles Courteau Trophy final.

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