Back-To-Back Wins in Baie-Comeau
Published on November 5, 2011 under Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
Saint John Sea Dogs News Release
BAIE-COMEAU, Que. - The Saint John Sea Dogs completed a two-game sweep of the Baie-Comeau Drakkar with a 3-2 win Saturday.
A night after dominating the home team 7-0, the Sea Dogs never led until the final 5:08, when Nathan Beaulieu's power-play goal put them up 3-2. Tomas Jurco and Kevin Gagne had the other Saint John goals, with Zack Phillips assisting on both as he extended his point streak to 10 games, tops in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Sebastien Auger made 25 saves for the win.
Tomas Filippi had a goal and an assist for Baie-Comeau, and J-P Caron had the other Drakkar marker. Alexandre Durette assisted on both goals and Jimmy Appleby made 27 saves in the loss.
Saint John improved to 16-6, while Baie-Comeau fell to 11-8.
Click HERE to view a complete scoresheet from Wednesday's game. For interviews and highlights, visit Sea Dogs TV, the team's official YouTube channel.
While the game was light on goal-scoring, it did feature some rough stuff, with a pair of fights. Saint John's Ian Saab tangled with Gabriel Verpaelst of the Drakkar in a long bout at centre ice just 1:42 into the game.
Baie-Comeau then opened the scoring at the 7:12 mark. After Durette won a faceoff to Auger's right, Filippi threw a shot on net from the left-wing boards that found its way through.
Jurco had a great chance to equalize midway through the frame, batting a Scott Oke pass out of the air and on net. The Dogs then ran into penalty trouble, with three straight minor penalties. Auger and the penalty killers stood tall, and finished a perfect 5-for-5 on the evening.
After the great penalty killing work kept it a one-goal game, Jurco broke through at 19:01 of the first, jamming in a loose puck in front. Phillips and Pierre Durepos assisted on the goal, Jurco's ninth of the season.
The second period was scoreless but featured more fisticuffs, as Oke dropped the gloves with Samuel Noreau 1:49 into the frame. The Drakkar outshot the Sea Dogs 10-5 in the middle frame, but Auger - who was chosen third star - kept the score even.
Saint John pressed for the go-ahead goal early in the third, but Baie-Comeau took advantage on the counter-attack. Filippi got loose, rushed down the right wing and fed a trailing Caron with a cross-ice pass. After Caron converted, his teammates mobbed him in the slot in celebration and the crowd came to life, but there was plenty of time left for Saint John to come back.
Veteran defenceman Gagne came up with a big goal to neutralize the Baie-Comeau momentum at 8:03. The smooth-skating rearguard colletcted a puck in his own end, and cleared to start a rush. Later in the shift he kept a puck in at the left point, dished to Phillips on the left-wing boards and drove to the slot, where he completed the scoring play with a well-placed snap shot. Stephen MacAulay recorded the other assist on the assistant captain's second of the season.
The Dogs weren't done yet, taking advantage of a late power play to take their first lead of the evening at 14:52. The Dogs won a draw to Appleby's right and needed just 11 seconds of man advantage to set up the goal. Jonathan Huberdeau got the puck back to Charles Roussel at the left point, while Beaulieu slid down to the top of the right-wing circle, took a feed from Roussel and blasted home his fifth of the year.
Baie-Comeau made a late push to set up an exciting finish with the goaltender pulled for an extra attacker, executing a final faceoff play to talented defenceman Samuel Carrier, whose shot hit the post. The Drakkar sent players back out onto the ice as the play was video reviewed, but the replay confirmed Carrier's shot hit the post, preserving Saint John's victory.
The Sea Dogs wrap up their four-game road swing Friday with a visit to the Prince Edward Island Rocket, a 7 p.m. start. Tim Roszell will have the call on News 88.9 FM . Fans can also catch all the action online via the official TELUS QMJHL webcast (click HEREto order; charges apply).
Saint John returns home Saturday to welcome 16-year-old phenom Nathan MacKinnon and the Halifax Mooseheads, a 7 p.m. puck drop. The Dogs then host Baie-Comeau Sunday at 3 p.m. for the team's annual Support Our Troops game. Single-game tickets are available at the Harbour Station box office, by calling 506-657-1234 or online at www.tickets.harbourstation.ca.
Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Stories from November 5, 2011
- Back-To-Back Wins in Baie-Comeau - Saint John Sea Dogs
- Chaput added to roster for Subway Super Series - QMJHL
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