What a Night

MacKinnon goes off for 5 on Remparts
-www.halifaxmooseheads.ca

MacKinnon went off for 5 goals Saturday night in an epic performance by a 16 year old that will be talked about for a while.  The Cole Harbour native buried his 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th and 19th goals of the year in highlight reel fashion against a very good Quebec Remparts team.  Oh yeah, the Moose won 6-4.

Josh Desmond got the Moose on the board in the first period giving the Herd a 1-0 lead on his 5th of the year.  Quebec would score 2 quick goals in 42 seconds at the end of the 1st period to take a 2-1 lead heading into the 2nd.  The Remparts would outshoot the Moose 18-6 in the period hemming the Moose in their own end most of the 20 minutes. 

In the second period, MacKinnon would tip a beautiful Alex Grenier pass with one hand for his first of his 5 on the night.  Two other very talented 16 year olds would put the Remparts up 4-2 when Anthony Duclair and Adam Erne potted goals behind fellow 16 year old rookie Zach Fucale.  MacKinnon would score his 2nd of the night crashing the net with 2 Remparts on his back off a nice pass from Konrad Abeltshauser to send him in alone.  The Herd would trail 4-3 after 2 periods of play.

Cue the Nathan MacKinnon show, if it wasnt already well underway.  The 3rd started with MacKinnon deking out the Rempart goalie skating out from the corner to tie the game at 4 for his hat trick.  His 4th would come off a beautiful individual effort coming out from the corner for the wraparound and a 5-4 Moose lead.  And of course, his 5th would be anything but an ordinary empty net goal to seal the Mooseheads victory.

An appreciative crowd of just under 6,500 gave Nate a standing ovation following his 5th goal and stayed as he returned the favor applauding the Moose faithful after being named the game's 1st star.  What a night.

The Moose will now have a good week of practice before heading to PEI to kick off a 3 in 3 with the Rocket and Saint John on Friday and Saturday, then back home Sunday at 3pm versus the Sea Dogs.  For tickets to see the Herd take on the Memorial Cup Champs next Sunday, December 11th at 3pm, visit the Ticket Atlantic Box Office, select Superstore Outlets, www.ticketatlantic.com or charge by phone 451-1221.