QMJHL Saint John Sea Dogs

Dogs Edge Mooseheads to Extend Division Lead

Published on November 12, 2011 under Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
Saint John Sea Dogs News Release


SAINT JOHN - The Saint John Sea Dogs ran their home winning streak to double digits Saturday, topping the Halifax Mooseheads 4-3 before 5,070 fans at Harbour Station.

Danick Gauthier was in on all four goals, scoring twice and adding two assists as the Sea Dogs prevailed in a matchup of the top two teams in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League Maritime Division. Gauthier now leads the QMJHL with a career-best 22 goals.

Tomas Jurco and Grant West had a goal and an assist each, with West adding a fight for the Gordie Howe hat trick. Nathan Beaulieu chipped in two assists and Mathieu Corbeil made 33 saves for the win against his former team.

Rookie phenom Nathan MacKinnon delivered as advertised for the Mooseheads, scoring twice, while Gabriel Desjardins added a single. Alexandre Grenier and Matthew Boudreau had two assists each and Zachary Fucale made 28 saves in the loss.

With the win the Sea Dogs remained first overall with a record of 18-6, while Halifax fell to 13-6-1-1, eight points behind Saint John in the Maritime Division race.

Gauthier lit the lamp and dropped a few jaws as he opened the scoring with a long wrist shot that beat Fucale high to the glove side on Saint John's first shot of the game. West and Nathan Beaulieu assisted on the goal at 8:03.

MacKinnon evened the affair with his first of the night at 13:05, driving to the net from the right-wing corner and burying a rebound.

The Dogs pulled back in front on a power play at 9:40 of the second period. Zack Phillips slid a pass from the right-wing boards just inside the blueline to Jurco, who wound up with a slap shot from in between the top of the circles. Jurco's blast beat Fucale for his 12th of the year. Gauthier picked up one assist, with the other going to Phillips, extending his points streak to 12 games, the longest active streak in the league.

MacKinnon once again drew Halifax even, taking a laser cross-ice feed from Grenier at Corbeil's left, and depositing it into a wide-open net at 12:35.

West gave the Dogs a 3-2 lead heading into the second intermission, driving to the net through four defenders, taking a feed from Scott Oke and knocking it in for his third of the year. Gauthier picked up the other assist on the marker at 19:07.

Gauthier added an insurance marker on a power play early in the third. The 20-year-old forward executed a give-and-go with Jurco, feeding the Slovakian in the right wing corner and driving to the net where he finished for his league-best 22nd.

The Dogs ended up needing Gauthier's second goal, as Desjardins made it 4-3 at 5:05. Saint John was able to hold on thanks to strong play from Corbeil and his defensive corps. The overage netminder robbed Brad Cuzner with just over eight minutes to go, sprawling to keep the puck out with his left arm.

Halifax was awarded a power play with 6:13 left, but the Sea Dogs penalty killers came up big. The last minute provided several edge-of-the-seat moments, as an empty-net attempt by the Dogs squirted just wide and was called for icing with 55.9 seconds remaining.

The Mooseheads called a timeout and set up with the extra attacker. Boudreau had the best chance in tight, but Corbeil held on with 20.7 to go and the Dogs were able to prevent further quality chances and hold on for the win.

The Dogs 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.

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Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Stories from November 12, 2011


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