Young Mooseheads learn certain patterns shouldn’t be repeated

Halifax Mooseheads defenceman Eddy Doyle hits Charlottetown Islanders forward Tyler Peddle into the boards during a QMJHL game at the Scotiabank Centre on Sunday afternoon. – SUPPLIED BY TREVOR MACMILLAN/HALIFAX MOOSEHEADSArticle contentOne of the many lessons the Halifax Mooseheads were bound to learn somewhere along the line this season is it’s never wise to expect minor miracles against the same team in back-to-back games.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentThe Mooseheads pulled a rabbit out of their hat in Charlottetown on Saturday, erasing a 2-0 Islanders lead in the third period for a 4-2 win. But their mistake in the rematch was digging another two-goal hole and expecting to duplicate the result.Article contentArticle contentArticle contentThe Islanders were at the Scotiabank Centre on Sunday for the back half of the home-and-home set and held on this time for a 2-1 win.Article content“We kind of got off to a slow start and we weren’t playing to our identity, but then as the third went on, we started getting pucks and forechecking, and then we all started building off each other’s momentum,” Halifax defenceman Eddy Doyle said. “We got one there near the end, but we couldn’t get the other one that we needed.Article content“That’s why the start is so important. You’ve got to play a full 60 to win a game. Last night we had a great third and that won us the game, but we can’t be having slow starts like this as much as we did this weekend. We’ve got to fix that up.”Article contentAlthough the Mooseheads went into the game just three points behind the Eastern Conference-leading Islanders, it’s important to remember they are still refining their ability to close games. The young Mooseheads saw in Charlottetown they’re good enough to get away with rallying late for wins some of the time, but they had to learn the hard way it really isn’t a good habit to chase games.Article contentArticle contentWill Bent scored the Mooseheads’ only goal with 1:53 left in the third period and their net empty for the extra attacker. William Shields scored both of the Islanders’ goals.Article content“We couldn’t really find our offence for the first two periods and it took until the last two minutes to get one so I think moving forward, we just have to do a better job of playing our game for the full three periods,” Halifax winger Connor MacPherson said. “I mean, it was the same story yesterday. It was a different result, but we didn’t really find our game until a third.Article content“Once we do, we’re hard to stop and we’re hard to play against but I just think our mindset going into the first period should be to focus on being that dominant team that we know we can be. When we wait until the third period against good teams like Charlottetown, they’re going to capitalize on their chances and it’s going to make it that much harder for us.”