Sold-Out Harbour Station Watches Saint John Take a 2-0 Series Lead Over Acadie-Bathurst
Published on April 5, 2008 under Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
Saint John Sea Dogs News Release
SAINT JOHN, NB --- The Saint John Sea Dogs continued their winning ways on Saturday night, earning their sixth consecutive playoff victory by a score of 5-2 over the Acadie-Bathurst Titan in front of a sell-out crowd of 6,488 at Harbour Station.
The Sea Dogs now lead the Titan two games to none in their QMJHL Quarter-Final series.
Keven Charland scored three goals to pace Saint John offensively in the victory, opening and closing the scoring for the Sea Dogs in a highly-impressive win over their provincial rivals.
"It was nice to be able to contribute in such a big game," said Charland following the impressive three-goal win. "The crowd was fantastic tonight and they really motivated us to play well out there. It's definitely a great feeling to be up two games on the Titan heading up to Bathurst."
Scott Howes and Francois Gauthier also scored for the Sea Dogs on Saturday, while Tomas Svoboda and Remi Blanchard replied for the Titan.
Veteran goaltender Travis Fullerton was exceptional yet again in net for Saint John, making 31 saves to propel his team to victory. Meanwhile, Nicolas Champion was credited with a loss between the pipes for Acadie-Bathurst after allowing five goals on 25 shots faced. Bradley Dyke also saw action in net for the Titan, stopping all three shots sent his way in 5:25 of action late in the game.
Fresh off of a highly-impressive two assist performance in Game One, Francois Gauthier got things started for the Sea Dogs in Game Two, setting Keven Charland up for his fourth goal of the playoffs 2:25 into the first period. Charland's early-match tally improved his team's post-season power play success rate to 38.6% (17-for-44), as Saint John's special teams play continues to impress in their first-ever President's Cup run.
Acadie-Bathurst responded 1:19 later when Tomas Svoboda beat Fullerton with a well-placed shot to earn his fifth playoff goal as Mathieu Perreault and Tomy Joly both picked up assists on the even-strength marker.
Saint John retook the lead five minutes later when Charland fired an absolute bullet of a shot over Champion's glove after out-duelling a Titan defender for the puck in the visitors' zone, improving his evening goals total to two in the process.
The Sea Dogs' penalty killing unit then came up with a big stop on the star-laden Titan power play squadron late in the opening frame, sending Saturday night's contest into the first intermission with the home team leading 2-1.
Travis Fullerton was spectacular in the opening twenty minute session, making 10 saves during the period whilst confounding Acadie-Bathurst on several prime scoring opportunities by way of some impressive displays of athleticism.
The opening half of the second period was accompanied by some exciting end-to-end action that saw both teams register strong scoring chances, none of which came into fruition as the score remained 2-1 in favour of Saint John midway through the contest.
Near the fifteen minute mark of the second, Fullerton stoned Ryan Graham from point-blank range after a stylish passing play had left the 20-year old winger all alone in front of the Sea Dogs' net with the puck on his backhand. A moment later, Saint John's veteran goalie came up big yet again, moving across his crease with tremendous rapidity to rob Tomy Joly on a short-side one-timer.
The visiting squad from northern New Brunswick was then able to tie things up at two apiece with 2:58 remaining in the middle frame, as Remi Blanchard wired a hard, low snap shot to the back of Saint John's net during a Titan power play.
Scott Howes put the host squad back on top one-and-a-half minutes later, roofing a loose puck over Champion after a point shot by Ryan Sparling wasn't adeptly handled by Acadie-Bathurst's rookie net minder.
The Sea Dogs went up 4-2 early in the third period on the strength of goal off the stick of Francois Gauthier, who gave Saint John their fifth power play marker of the series 1:44 into regulation's final frame.
After successfully killing off a four-minute double-minor incurred by David Stich for hitting from behind, the hosts went up by three on Keven Charland's hat-trick-clinching goal. After Alexandre Leduc lost control of the puck at the tail end of an impressive rush which showcased the 19-year old's dynamic stick handling abilities, Charland pounced on the free piece of vulcanized rubber in the slot, wiring home his third of the night to put the Sea Dogs up by three at the 54:35 mark of the match.
Acadie-Bathurst functionally conceded defeat following Charland's sixth career playoff goal, electing to rest their top two lines over the course of the closing five minutes of play as Saint John cruised to victory and a 2-0 lead in the Battle of New Brunswick.
Game Three will take place in Bathurst on Tuesday night with Game Four set to take place the following evening, also in Bathurst. Both games have a start time of 7:30pm and can be heard live on News 88.9 FM in Saint John.
Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Stories from April 5, 2008
- Sold-Out Harbour Station Watches Saint John Take a 2-0 Series Lead Over Acadie-Bathurst - Saint John Sea Dogs
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