Sea Dogs Win 7-4, Take 1-0 Lead In Quarter-Final Series With Olympiques
Published on April 2, 2010 under Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
Saint John Sea Dogs News Release
SAINT JOHN, NB --- The Saint John Sea Dogs kicked off their second round playoff series with the Gatineau Olympiques in winning fashion on Friday night, earning a 7-4 victory in Game 1 of the best-of-seven showdown.
Russian-born playmaker Stanislav Galiev paced the Sea Dogs' offence, registering 2G-3A-5P on the night in laying claim to First Star of the Game honours and setting a team record for most points by a rookie in a single post-season match. Michael Kirkpatrick (2), Nicholas Pard, Mike Hoffman and Tomas Jurco also scored for the Sea Dogs in Friday's series-opening win, with overage goalie Marco Cousineau making 15 saves in picking up the victory.
At the other end of the ice, Adam Janosik, Benjamin Laliberté, Hubert Labrie, and Mitchell Porowski each tallied markers for the Olymiques in a losing effort. Veteran net minder Maxime Clermont, meanwhile, suffered his third defeat of the playoffs after surrendering seven goals on 33 shots faced.
Freshman forward Tomas Jurco tallied the first goal of the contest 8:21 into the first period, beating Clermont on a bullet of a slot-launched backhand shot. Stanislav Galiev and Michael Kirkpatrick both drew helpers on Jurco's even-strength marker, his third of the playoffs.
Saint John doubled their lead 2:50 later when import winger Stanislav Galiev stole the puck from a Gatineau defender in Olympiques territory and swiftly fired a wrist shot between Clermont's pads. Galiev made another sensational play on the hosts' third goal of the stanza, setting up a crease-hovering Michael Kirkpatrick for a tap-in tally on a crisp, cross-ice feed in the 18th minute of play.
The visitors struck twice in the opening 13:55 of the second period to pull to within one of their opponents, with Adam Janosik and Mitchell Porowski netting back-to-back power play goals. Gatineau then tallied the equalizer courtesy of a nifty backhander from Benjamin Laliberté, who beat Cousineau low after being set up all alone in front of Saint John's net by Alex Noël at the 16:12 mark of the middle frame. The Sea Dogs retook the lead two-and-a-half minutes later, however, when Stanislav Galiev buried his second of the night from point-blank range.
Nicholas Pard added an insurance goal for the home team early in the third period, banking in a shot off of an Olympique in registering his third career post-season goal. Michael Kirkpatrick then put his team up by a field goal midway through regulation's final frame, wiring a snap shot to the back of Gatineau's net to tally his second marker of the evening.
Hugo Labrie reduced the visitors' deficit to two with 5:42 remaining in regulation, but that would be as close as Gatineau would get as Saint John's three-goal advantage was restored by league MVP Mike Hoffman late in the third. The regular season champs ultimately took the decision by a 7-4 final.
These two teams will meet for Game 2 of their best-of-seven showdown on Saturday night at Harbour Station (puck drop: 7pm). Tickets to this match can be obtained by calling the arena box office at (506) 657-1234, or by visiting www.tickets.harbourstation.ca.
Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Stories from April 2, 2010
- Sea Dogs Win 7-4, Take 1-0 Lead In Quarter-Final Series With Olympiques - Saint John Sea Dogs
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