Halifax Mooseheads Claim Overtime Victory Over Moncton Wildcats

UPDATE: The Halifax Mooseheads secured a thrilling overtime victory against the defending champions, the Moncton Wildcats, in an exciting matchup on Sunday, October 15, 2023. The game ended dramatically with a final score of 2-1 after a nail-biting overtime period, showcasing the resilience and determination of the Mooseheads.

In a rare Sunday afternoon game, the action heated up early as Niko Tournas of Moncton scored at 7:25 in the first period, putting the Wildcats ahead while the Mooseheads were down a player due to a penalty. Despite a brief 5-on-3 power play, Halifax struggled to find the net in the opening frame.

The second period was marked by exceptional goaltending, with Mooseheads’ Owen Brisson facing a barrage of shots, stopping 23 through two periods. Moncton’s Rudy Guimond also performed admirably, managing to hold the Mooseheads to just 16 shots.

The intensity escalated in the third period when a controversial hit on Patrick McNabb led to a lengthy review and subsequent penalties. Moncton’s Riley Sampson received a five-minute major and a match penalty for boarding, while Halifax’s Conner MacPherson was penalized for high-sticking.

With 6:14 left in regulation, the Mooseheads finally equalized as Oleg Kulibyakin found the back of the net, assisted by Jasu Mensonen. The score was tied at 1-1, sending the game into overtime.

In a dramatic finish, Quinn Kennedy emerged as the hero, scoring the game-winning goal just 3:49 into overtime. Kulibyakin and Caylen Blake assisted on the decisive play, securing the Mooseheads’ victory and sending fans into a frenzy.

For his outstanding performance, Kennedy was named the first star of the game, while Guimond earned second star honors with a remarkable 26-save effort. Tournas rounded out the stars as the third star.

The Mooseheads will look to build on this momentum as they return to the Scotiabank Centre on Thursday night to face the Rimouski Océanic. The game is set to begin at 7 p.m., with live coverage on 95.7 NewsRadio featuring Garreth MacDonald starting at 6:30 p.m.