Sea Dogs Clinch First-Ever Playoff Berth With 5-2 Road Victory Over Voltigeurs
Published on February 10, 2008 under Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
Saint John Sea Dogs News Release
DRUMMONDVILLE, QC --- History was made at the Marcel Dionne Centre on Sunday night, as the Saint John Sea Dogs secured their first-ever QMJHL post-season spot with a 5-2 win over the Drummondville Voltigeurs in Central Quebec.
The East Division-leading Sea Dogs now have 74 points on the season, 26 more than the cellar-dwelling Moncton Wildcats, who have 13 games remaining on their schedule and are unable to surpass Saint John's wins total.
The Sea Dogs never trailed in Sunday's contest, scoring the game's first goal and cruising to victory from there, with Alex Grant, Payton Liske, Chris DiDomenico, Keven Charland, and former Voltigeur Scott Howes all tallying markers for the visitors. Mike Hoffman scored both goals for the home team in a losing effort.
Veteran goalie Travis Fullerton turned in a highly-impressive performance in net for Saint John, making 42 saves on the night to earn his 20th win of 2007-08 in addition to First Star of the Game honours. At the other end of the ice, Michael Dupont (41 saves) suffered the loss for Drummondville despite playing well throughout the match. Dupont is now 10-20 on the season.
The Voltigeurs were awarded the game's first power play when Chris DiDomenico was assessed a two minute minor by officials. Some acrobatic goaltending by Fullerton prevented Drummondville from capitalizing on their early man-up opportunity, allowing Payton Liske to be able to tally an unassisted, short-handed marker after stealing the puck from a Voltigeurs defenseman near the Drummondville blue line and breaking in alone on Dupont. Liske beat the Philadelphia Flyers prospect with a blocker-side shot that gave the visitors a 1-0 lead 7:41 into the first period.
Shortly after DiDomenico's penalty expired however, the home team tied things up at one apiece, with Mike Hoffman beating Fullerton through the five-hole on a passing attempt that deflected and bounced its way to the back of the Saint John net to earn the 18-year old winger his 19th goal of the season
With 3:14 remaining in the opening frame, Saint John went up 2-1 when Keven Charland pounced on a loose pick near Drummondville's crease and slid a backhand shot to the back of the home team's net, earning his 15th goal of the season in the process.
The Sea Dogs continued to apply extreme pressure at the Voltigeurs' end of the ice throughout the duration of the first period, but some stellar work by Dupont between the pipes for Drummondville, particularly during Saint John's first power play of the match, kept his team within immediate striking distance of the visitors as Sunday's contest reached the first intermission.
Both goalies saw plenty of rubber in the opening frame, with Saint John and Drummondville combining for 38 shots over the course of the first twenty minutes of play.
After a back-and-forth opening sixteen minutes of play in the second period produced an absence of quantitative offence, Scott Howes gave the Sea Dogs a 3-1 lead when he was sprung on a breakaway by Pascal Amyot. Howes beat Dupont with an impressive deking manoeuvre, giving Saint John an insurance marker with his 35h goal of the year.
Two fights took place in the middle frame, with Saint John forwards Mike Thomas and Alexandre Leduc proving victorious over Drummondville players Jeff Marcoux and Mike Hoffman in a pair of spirited bouts.
The third period saw both goalies continue their strong play, as the score remained 3-1 Sea Dogs until midway through the frame when Alex Grant put Saint John up by a field goal with his 14th goal of the season. From the slot, the Sea Dogs Captain one-timed a Scott Howes pass to the back of Drummondville's net during a power play, giving the 20-year old forward his second assist and third point of the game. Howes was later named the Second Star of the Game in recognition of his outstanding effort.
With 1:33 remaining in regulation, Mike Hoffman scored his second goal of the game, beating Fullerton from close range with a wrist shot on the fly to pull the Voltigeurs to within comeback range in the late going.
Shortly after Hoffman's power play tally however, Chris DiDomenico restored the visitors' three-goal lead, registering an unassisted tally to secure a 5-2 victory for Saint John. The historic, playoff-clinching win comes 195 games into the Sea Dogs' existence.
The Sea Dogs now return to Saint John for a three-game home stand that will see the Moncton Wildcats (Wednesday), Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (Friday) and Acadie-Bathurt Titan (Sunday) visit Harbour Station.
Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Stories from February 10, 2008
- Sea Dogs Clinch First-Ever Playoff Berth With 5-2 Road Victory Over Voltigeurs - Saint John Sea Dogs
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