Moose pepper Cataractes with 58 shots in win
QMJHL  
Section: Sports
By Matthew Wuest,

The Halifax Mooseheads shot, shot again, and then shot some more. It all added up to victory.

The Mooseheads pelted the Shawinigan Cataractes with a season-high 58 shots yesterday and snapped a four-game losing streak with a convincing 7-2 road win in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action.

"We always talk about shooting the puck," Mooseheads head coach Cam Russell said afterward. "There are lots of times when you may not have the best shooting opportunity but if you just throw it on the net, you're going to create a scoring chance."

The Mooseheads outshot the Cataractes 24-12 in the first period, but trailed 2-1 after 20 minutes.

They responded with six unanswered goals, including three goals in the second and three in the third.

Rookie Andrew White potted two big ones, while Garrett Peters, Colby Pridham, Bryce Swan and Daniel Smith had singles. Swan reached the 30-goal plateau with his tally, an empty-netter with 1:12 remaining.

Mooseheads goalie Mark Yetman stopped 25 shots, while Marc-Andre Perron stopped 51 for Shawinigan.

"The biggest thing lately has been that we're working very hard and creating chances through our work ethic," Russell said, noting the team's strong play in losses to Lewiston and Drummondville earlier in the week.

Shawinigan has lost 10 straight games.

The game was marred by some late-game nastiness with 1:50 to go. Russell said five Shawinigan players dropped the gloves looking for fights.

Three Mooseheads skated away, Russell said, while Stephen Lund and Graham Bona responded.

Former Mooseheads scrapper Kevin Cormier - now Shawinigan's captain - dropped the gloves in a pairing with Garrett Peters. Cormier, a feared heavyweight, weighs 40 pounds more than Peters and is four inches taller. He also has 105 more penalty minutes.

Russell said Cormier didn't throw any punches and that he thought Cormier was just doing what he was told by Cataractes head coach Eric Veilleux.

"I don't understand why he did that - it wasn't a dirty game," Russell said "It's a greasy, dirty situation, and a lot of times it's dangerous. People can get hurt. I don't endorse that kind of game at all."

The Mooseheads scored in the final minute on the ensuing 5-on-3 power-play opportunity.

Cataractes winger Anton Manson of Halifax was also on the ice as part of the festivities.