Wildcats Take First Leg of New Year's Series
Published on December 31, 2011 under Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
Saint John Sea Dogs News Release
MONCTON - The Moncton Wildcats snapped an eight-game losing streak Saturday, topping the Saint John Sea Dogs 5-2 to take the first game of the annual New Year's home-and-home between the teams.
Allain Saulnier had two goals and an assist and Marek Hrivik had a goal and two assists for the Wildcats. Ryan Penny and Patrick Delisle-Houde had the other Moncton goals and Roma Will made 31 saves for the win as the Cats improved to 18-19-3-0.
Kevin Gagne and Zack Phillips scored for the Sea Dogs, who matched their season-long losing streak of three games. Mathieu Corbeil made 23 saves in the loss. Saint John also dropped the first three games of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League season, as the majority of the team attended various NHL camps. The team is in a similar situation now, missing several key players to injury and international tournaments. The Sea Dogs remain second overall in the QMJHL with a 28-12-0-2 record.
Fans had barely found their seats and the Wildcats had a 1-0 lead as Penny scored 25 seconds in on his team's first shot on the first shift of the game.
The Dogs evened things up on Gagne's goal at 5:10, set up thanks to some solid work by affiliate players Kraig Pasher and Dylan McGuigan. Pasher started the chance by winning a puck behind the net and getting it out front to McGuigan. His shot was stopped but he was able to get it back to Gagne, whose shot found its way through for his career-high seventh goal.
Saint John then took its lone lead on the goal by Phillips at 7:04. Stephen Anderson fed Aidan Kelly, whose shot from the left wing was stopped, but a trailing Phillips fired the rebound through a crowd and in. It was the first goal in three games and 20th of the season for the acting captain.
Moncton had a 7-2 edge in shots in the early going, but the Sea Dogs ended up ahead 15-12 on the shot clock after one period. Although Saint John outshot Moncton in all three periods, they were unable to find another goal after the first.
The Wildcats evened the affair on Saulnier's first of the night, a short-hander at 7:27. Saint John turned the puck over in the offensive zone and James Melindy made a quick transition pass to Alex Saulnier. Corbeil came way out to stop Alex, but brother Allain corralled the rebound and took advantage of Corbeil's positioning and put the puck home.
Houde then scored on a power play at 14:56, a goal that was initially awarded to Hrivik. Melindy tallied his second assist of the night on the play.
Hrivik added another in the third to make it 4-2 at 6:40, assisted by Allain Saulnier, who rounded out the scoring with his 17th at 12:15, from Hrivik and Daniel Milan.
Moncton picked up four points in the Brunswick News Rivalry Cup: three for the regulation win, and one for breaking the 4,000-fan mark. That gives the Wildcats a 9-6 lead in the Rivalry Cup standings entering Monday's rematch in Saint John. The 7 p.m. game will feature a special food drive for the Community Food Basket. Saint John's donations will be measured against those gathered Saturday in Moncton. The city donating the most food by weight will earn three extra points in the Rivalry Cup. 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 December 31, 2011
- Wildcats Take First Leg of New Year's Series - Saint John Sea Dogs
- Huge Win for the Cats Over Saint John - Moncton Wildcats
- Screaming Eagles Deal Ellis - Cape Breton Eagles
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