QMJHL Saint John Sea Dogs

Sea Dogs Take 3-0 Series Lead With 6-0 Road Win Over Olympiques

Published on April 6, 2010 under Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
Saint John Sea Dogs News Release


GATINEAU, QC - The Saint John Sea Dogs took a commanding 3-0 lead in their second round playoff series with the Gatineau Olympiques on Tuesday night, skating into the Robert Guertin Arena and earning a 6-0 victory on the strength of an 18-save performance by overage goaltender Marco Cousineau. Cousineau has now recorded two shutouts on the post-season, a franchise record.

Nathan Beaulieu (2), Michael Kirkpatrick (2), Nick Petersen, and Jonathan Huberdeau all scored for Saint John in the blowout win, with superstar defenseman Simon Després dishing out four assists on the evening. The Sea Dogs dominated special teams play in Game 3, striking twice on the power play while going 9-for-9 in man-down situations during what was a penalty-filled affair.

Gatineau goalies Maxime Clermont and Dereck Tait, meanwhile, combined to make 36 saves in Tuesday's home loss, a defeat which places their team on the brink of elimination.

Michael Kirkpatrick put Saint John up 1-0 in the seventh minute of play, beating Clermont from the slot on a sharp wrist shot that gave the veteran centre his fourth goal of the playoffs. Kirkpatrick's fifth of the post-season came at the 14:40 mark of the opening frame when the 19-year old Nova Scotian buried his own rebound upon taking a pass from Simon Després at the side of Gatineau's net after the towering blue-liner had single-handedly orchestrated an impressive down-ice rush.

Rookie winger Jonathan Huberdeau added to the visitors' lead 15:14 into period number two, taking a pass from Kirkpatrick on the fly into Olympiques territory and wiring a short-side wrist shot past Clermont's blocker to improve playoff goals total to eight.

The visiting squad from south western New Brunswick went up 4-0 early in the third period, with sophomore rearguard Nathan Beaulieu sneaking a point shot across the Gatineau goal line during a 5-on-3 power play for the Sea Dogs. Pittsburgh Penguins prospect Nick Petersen then converted on a semi-breakaway a few minutes later, sliding a low backhand shot past Clermont to bring an end to the third-year net minder's evening. Freshman puck stopper Dereck Tait took over goaltending for Gatineau after Petersen put Saint John up 5-0.

Tait was beaten by Nathan Beaulieu shortly after entering the game, as the 17-year old defenseman tallied his second of the night after taking an outlet pass from Jonathan Huberdeau and bearing down upon the Olympiques' backup goalie uncontested. Beaulieu's breakaway goal proved to be the final offensive strike of the night as Saint John cruised to victory from there on in, taking the decision by a 6-0 final.

Game 4 of this best-of-seven playoff showdown goes on Wednesday night at 8:30pm AST at the Robert Guertin Arena. The series' fifth game (if necessary) will be staged on Friday night in Gatineau, also at 8:30pm.

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Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Stories from April 6, 2010


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